The Follow-up of 360 Patients with Pulmonary Tuberculosis After 2 Months Treatment With Anti-tubercular Agents in Iran

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a major global health problem. The goal is to end the global TB epidemic. TB treatment averted 49 million deaths globally from 2000 to 2015. If everyone with TB had a timely diagnosis and high-quality treatment, the TB case fatality rate would be lower in all countries. The main source of infection is untreated smear positive pulmonary TB; the next step should be the examination of the sputum for Mycobacterium sp. Bacteriologic evaluation through culture and/smear microscopy is essential to monitor the response to treatment. Monitoring acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smear should be undertaken at 2, 5, and 6 months. The currently recommended treatment for the new cases of drug-susceptible TB is a 6-month regimen of 4 first-line drugs: isoniazid (INH), rifampin (RIF), ethambutol (ETM), and pyrazinamide (PZA). Treatment success rates of at least 85% for new cases of drug-susceptible TB are regularly reported to the world health organization (WHO) by its 194 member states. The global TB drug facility supplies a complete 6-month course for about US$ 40 per person. Objectives: The current study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of directly observed treatment short course (DOTS), AFB-negative/AFB-positive sputum after a 2-month treatment with the 4 first-line drugs. Methods: A total of 700 patients with tuberculosis referred to Sanabad Health Center of Mashhad, Iran from March 2005 to March 2008 were retrospectively studied. Then, 360 new smear-positive pulmonary TB were chosen. After 2 months of treatment with 4 anti-tubercular agents, age, gender, nationality, and AFB-negative, AFB-positive of sputum smear were recorded in 2 groups. Results: Females were infected more than males. There were treatment success rates of at least %86.4 for new cases of drug-susceptible TB. Age, gender, and nationality were not related to the changes in sputum (negative-positive). Conclusions: DOTS were effective in the current study. In low-and middle-income countries, in patients with TB cavity, diabetes, malnutrition, immune disorder, and cigarettes smoking, the sputum smear and culture testing on the days 15 and 30 of treatment until the completion of the treatment should be done.