Sputum conversion rate, cure rate and compliance among patients with newly diagnosed sputum positive pulmonary tuberculosis on dots therapy: a prospective study

Aim: Sputumsmear conversion rate is an operational indicator for the Directly Observed Treatment Short-course (DOTS) strategy of Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) in India. Noncompliance to self-administered multi drug tuberculosis treatment regimens is common and is the most important cause of failure of initial therapy and relapse. Hence this study was undertaken with the objectives to assess sputum conversion rate in sputum positive pulmonary tuberculosis during DOTS, to assess the effectiveness of DOTS therapy in achieving cure rate, to assess the compliance of patients receiving DOTS therapy. Methods: A Prospective study of 150 new detected sputum smear positive patients were included in the study. Two sputum specimens was examined (spot and early morning) as per the RNTCP guide lines. Follow up of patients was done at day 21, day 60 and day 90 during treatment. Results: Sputum conversion at the end of 21 days of treatment was 70.92%, at end of 60 days it was 95.03%, by 90 days it was 99.29%. Default rate of 4.67%, death rate of 1.33% and failure rate of 0.7% was observed in the study. Conclusion: DOTS programme is therapeutically effective both for the individual and the community, with rapid sputum conversion rate, cure rate and better compliance.