ArticleBMC infectious diseases2015
Delay in sputum smear conversion and outcomes of smear-positive tuberculosis patients: a retrospective cohort study in Bafoussam, Cameroon.
Article in BMC infectious diseases, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 23 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
23 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- The impact of smoking on tuberculosis treatment outcomes: a meta-analysis.The international journal of tuberculosis and lung disease : the official journal of the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease · 2020Pooled it
- Exploring lung microbiota and clinical application of BALF-mNGS in patients with pulmonary mycobacterial diseases: a multicenter retrospective study.BMC microbiology · 2026Article
- Optimizing Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis Treatment Outcomes in a High HIV-Burden Setting: A Study of Sputum Conversion and Regimen Efficacy in Rural South Africa.Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Treatment outcomes of pulmonary TB in adults in Indonesia.IJTLD open · 2025Article
- Changes in The Trends of Tuberculosis-related Indicators in Hamadan Province Using the Join Point Regression Approach From 2011 to 2022.Journal of research in health sciences · 2025Article
- Prevalence and factors associated with sputum smear non-conversion after two months of tuberculosis treatment among smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Rwanda: a cross-sectional study.BMC infectious diseases · 2023Article
- Article
- Treatment outcomes of extended versus nonextended intensive phase in pulmonary tuberculosis smear positive patients with delayed sputum smear conversion: A retrospective cohort study at primary care clinics in Kota Kinabalu.Malaysian family physician : the official journal of the Academy of Family Physicians of Malaysia · 2023Article
- Association between sputum conversion and in-hospital mortality in elderly patients with pulmonary tuberculosis: a retrospective study.BMC infectious diseases · 2022Article
- Epidemiology and Risk Factors of Delayed Sputum Smear Conversion in Malaysian Aborigines with Smear-Positive Pulmonary Tuberculosis.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Article
- Sputum smear conversion and treatment outcomes among drug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis patients in eastern Ethiopia: A 9-years data analysis.Frontiers in medicine · 2022Article
- Sputum smear conversion and associated factors among smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients in East Gojjam Zone, Northwest Ethiopia: a longitudinal study.BMC pulmonary medicine · 2021Article
- Sputum smear non-conversion among adult persons with bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis in rural eastern Uganda.Journal of clinical tuberculosis and other mycobacterial diseases · 2020Article
- Determinants of sputum smear nonconversion in smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Suriname, 2010 - 2015.Revista panamericana de salud publica = Pan American journal of public health · 2019Article
- Longitudinal body weight and sputum conversion in patients with tuberculosis, Southwest Ethiopia: a retrospective follow-up study.BMJ open · 2018Article
- Factors Associated with Persistent Sputum Positivity at the End of the Second Month of Tuberculosis Treatment in Lithuania.Tuberculosis and respiratory diseases · 2018Article
- Second month sputum smear as a predictor of tuberculosis treatment outcomes in Brazil.BMC research notes · 2018Article
- Delays to treatment initiation is associated with tuberculosis treatment outcomes among patients on directly observed treatment short course in Southwest Ethiopia: a follow-up study.BMC pulmonary medicine · 2018Article
- Treatment outcomes and factors affecting unsuccessful outcome among new pulmonary smear positive and negative tuberculosis patients in Anqing, China: a retrospective study.BMC infectious diseases · 2018Article
- Prognostic score to predict mortality during TB treatment in TB/HIV co-infected patients.PloS one · 2018Article
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4 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundIn limited resource settings, sputum smear conversion at the end of the intensive phase of tuberculosis treatment is an indicator not only of patients' response to treatment, but also of anti-tuberculosis program performance. The objective of this study was to identify factors associated to sputum smear non-conversion at the end of the intensive phase of treatment, and the effect of smear non-conversion on the outcome of smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients.
methodThis retrospective cohort study was carried out on data of patients treated in the Diagnostic and Treatment Centre of Baleng, West-Cameroon from 2006 to 2012. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association of socio-demographic and clinical factors with delay in sputum smear conversion, and the association of this delay with treatment outcomes.
resultOut of 1425 smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients treated during the study period, 1286 (90.2%) were included in the analysis. Ninety four (7.3% CI: 6.0- 8.9) patients were identified as non-converted at the end of the intensive phase of treatment. Pre-treatment smears graded 2+ and 3+ were independently associated to delay in smear conversion (p<0.01). Years of treatment ranging from 2009 to 2012 were also associated to delay in smear conversion (p<0.02). Delay in smear conversion was significantly associated to failure [Adjusted Odd Ratio (AOR):12.4 (Confidence Interval: CI 4.0- 39.0)] and death, AOR: 3.6 (CI 1.5- 9.0).
conclusionHeavy initial bacillary load and treatment years ranging from 2009 to 2012 were associated to sputum smear non-conversion at the end of the intensive phase of TB treatment. Also, delay in smear conversion was associated to unfavorable treatment outcomes. Patients with heavy initial bacillary load should thus be closely monitored and studies done to identify reasons for the high proportion of non-conversion among patients treated between 2009 and 2012.
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