SPUTUM GRADING AS PREDICTOR OF TREATMENT OUTCOME IN PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS

Abstract

A retrospective analysis of newly diagnosed sputum positive patients (Category I) registered under RNTCP in 1999 at New Delhi Tuberculosis Centre in India was undertaken to assess the importance of initial sputum grading as a predictor of treatment outcome. The analysis revealed that a larger proportion of previously untreated sputum positive patients with 3+ grading required extension of the intensive phase and had a more unfavourable treatment outcome in the form of treatment failures and deaths than among those with a lower grading.