scholarly journals Factors Affecting Discordance between Sputum Smear and Culture Conversion Rates In Newly Diagnosed Pulmonary Tuberculosis: A Retrospective Study in Developing Country

2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 477-493
Author(s):  
Duangjai Duangrithi
Author(s):  
Nathella P Kumar ◽  
Kadar Moideen ◽  
Arul Nancy ◽  
Vijay Viswanathan ◽  
Kannan Thiruvengadam ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Plasma chemokines are biomarkers of greater disease severity, higher bacterial burden and delayed sputum culture conversion in pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). Whether plasma chemokines could also serve as biomarkers of unfavorable treatment outcomes in PTB is not known. Methods A cohort of newly diagnosed, sputum smear and culture positive adult individuals with drug-sensitive PTB were recruited under the Effect of diabetes on Tuberculosis Severity study in Chennai, India. Plasma chemokine levels measured before treatment initiation were compared between 68 cases with unfavorable outcomes (treatment failure, death or recurrence) and 136 control individuals who had recurrence-free cure. A second validation cohort comprising of newly diagnosed, culture positive adults with drug-sensitive TB was used to measure plasma chemokine levels in 20 cases and 40 controls. Findings Six chemokines (CCL2, CCL3, CCL4, CXCL8, CXCL10 and CX3CL1) were associated with increased risk, while CXCL1 was associated with decreased risk of unfavorable outcomes in unadjusted and adjusted analyses in the test cohort. Similarly, CCL3, CXCL8 and CXCL10 were associated with increased risk of unfavorable treatment outcomes in the validation cohort. Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed combinations of CCL3, CXCL8 and CXCL10 exhibited very high sensitivity and specificity in differentiating cases versus controls. Conclusions Our study reveals a plasma chemokine signature that can be used as a novel biomarker for predicting adverse treatment outcomes in PTB.


2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (01) ◽  
pp. 41-46
Author(s):  
Pushpa Man Shrestha ◽  
Minani Gurung ◽  
Nabin Kumar Chaudhary

Introduction: Pulmonary tuberculosis is a contagious bacterial infection that involves the lungs and it may spread to other organs. Sputum smear and culture conversion are important indicators for the effectiveness of treatment and the infectivity of the patient. The present study aims to find sputum smear and culture conversion time and the factors that influence the conversion time among tuberculosis patients at National Tuberculosis Centre in Nepal. Methods: A total of 54 patients, who were diagnosed with laboratory confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis and under antitubercular therapy were monitored for sputum smear and culture conversion time. The blood specimens from each patient were processed for hemoglobin, platelets, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and blood glucose levels. Patient’s clinical history, risk factors that prolong conversion time and sociodemographic information were also collected by direct interview. Results: The mean sputum smear and culture conversion were found to be 54.4 days and 45.5 days respectively. Old age, smoking habit, low body mass index value, Treatment category II, initial bacillary load and abnormal erythrocyte sedimentation rate values were found to be associated with long sputum conversion time. Radiographic involvement of only left lungs, presence of fewer symptoms, aged between 15-45 years, having normal weight, without smoking habit and being married, were found to be associated with short sputum conversion time. Conclusions: The sputum microscopy, old age, smoking habit, low body mass index value, treatment category II, initial bacillary load and abnormal erythrocyte sedimentation rate value had been found to be significantly associated with long sputum conversion time.


2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. S284-S284
Author(s):  
Alfonso Hernandez

Abstract Background Cavitary lesions (CLs) may be a marker of poor treatment response in pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). Identification of CLs by chest roentgenogram (CXR) has important limitations. Chest computed tomography (CT) is more sensitive than CXR to detect CLs but the clinical relevance of CLs identified by CT remains understudied. We compared detection of CLs between CT and CXR and assessed their association with time to sputum culture conversion (tSCC). We hypothesized that increasing number and volume of CLs on CT would be associated with prolonged tSCC. Methods Retrospective cohort study of 141 culture confirmed PTB patients who underwent chest CT. We used multivariate Cox proportional hazards models to evaluate the association between chest radiological features and tSCC. Results Seventy-five (53%) patients had one or more CLs on CT. CT identified cavities in 31% of patients without a CL on CXR. Detection of cavity on CT was associated with an increased median [IQR] time to culture conversion (15 [7–35] days among noncavitary CT vs. 39 [25–55] days among cavitary CT; P < 0.0001). Among patients without CL on CXR, detection of CL on CT was associated with prolonged tSCC (median difference (CI): 16 (7–25) days, P = 0.0008). Similar results were observed among patients with 3–4+ sputum smear (median difference: 19.5 (8–31) days, P = 0.001). Adjusted Kaplan–Meier curves of number and volume of CLs and tSCC are shown in Figure 1. After confounder adjustment patients with single and multiple CL had a prolonged tSCC relative to patients without CLs on CT (adjusted Hazard Ratio [aHR] 0.56 (0.32–0.97) and 0.31 (0.16–0.60), respectively). Similarly, patients with CL volume 25 mL or more had a prolonged tSCC (aHR 0.39 (0.21–0.72)). CXR CL was not associated with prolonged tSCC. Conclusion We observed a dose–response relationship between increasing number and volume of CLs on CT and delayed tSCC independent of sputum bacillary load. Our findings highlight a role for CT in a clinical research setting to predict shorter time to culture conversion. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.


2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-33
Author(s):  
SEK Acquah ◽  
L Quaye ◽  
W Walana ◽  
EK Vicar ◽  
YN Osei ◽  
...  

Sputum smear conversion during pulmonary tuberculosis treatment is an important indicator of patient response to therapy and as such determines the direction of TB patient care. This retro-spective review assessed the trends in sputum smear evaluation and conversion rates among follow up pulmonary tuberculosis patients presenting to the Tamale Teaching Hospital from January 2004 to December 2012. A total of 8,238 sputum smear cases comprising of 6,892 (83.7%) diagnoses and 1,346 (16.3%) follow-up cases were recorded. The 1,346 follow-up cases comprised of 57.8% (778/1346) males and 42.2% (568/1346) females. The percentage proportion of follow up cases that had their month of follow up, residential addresses, ages and smear results reported are 93.8% (1262/1346), 95.2% (1281/1346), 98.2% (1322/1346) and 97.8% (1309/1346) respectively. The cumula-tive median age was 43years (IQR: 30 to 55years) with the minimum and maximum ages being 14 and 80 years recorded in 2008 and 2012 respectively. Thirty eight percent (511/1,346) of follow-up cases were from the intensive phase (month 2) evaluation period. One hundred and eleven (111) of the follow up cases were smear positive representing a cumulative positivity rate of 8.5% (111/1309). This comprised of 75(67.6 %) males and 36(32.4%) females. Generally males were observed to be significantly more likely to delay smear conversion during treatment (OR = 1.560; p = 0.035, 95% CI=1.032- 2.359) compared to females. The ages of the positive cases ranged from 14 to 75 years with a median age of 45.5 years. The intensive phase (month 2) positivity rate was 8.1% (63/776) representing a conversion rate of 91.9%. Significant proportion (15.4%) of males were smear posi-tive and were more likely to remain positive after two months of therapy compared to their female counterparts (OR = 2, p = 0.02, CI = 0.098 – 1.299). Periodic surveillance of regional sputum smear late/non conversion among PTB patients on treatment would be useful in supporting Tb manage-ment in Ghana.Keywords: Mycobacterium tuberculosis, follow up, microscopy, acid fast bacilli, Ghana


1995 ◽  
Vol 76 ◽  
pp. 22
Author(s):  
P.G. Suarez ◽  
S.T. Ivan ◽  
O.C. Jave ◽  
C.A. Bonilla ◽  
J. Portocarrero ◽  
...  

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