Har Ashish Jindal, Jagbir Singh Malik, Bhumika Bhatt, Meenal Gupta, Kalpana
ABSTRACT
Background: Tuberculosis remain one of the major public health problem. Many studies document that a high pre-treatment bacillary load can lead to poor outcomes. Objective: The present study was undertaken to determine pre-treatment smear grading among New Sputum Positive Tuberculosis patients and to determine factors that are associated with high pre-treatment (3+) smear grading. Design: It was a cross-sectional study for 12 months and NSP TB cases, who were to start their Category I treatment regimen at DTC, DOTS Centre, were recruited. After enrolment, various parameters were studied (recorded) on a pre designed, pre-tested, semi-structured schedule. Results: The study had 71.3% males and 28.7% females. Nearly, half (49.5%) of the subjects had a high pre-treatment bacillary load (3+). On logistic regression consumption of tobacco and duration to reach DOTS treatment were found to be independently associated with increased pre-treatment bacillary load of the disease with an odds ratio of 2.405 and 3.726 respectively Conclusion: The consumption of tobacco and duration of the patient reaching the RNTCP treatment influence pre-treatment bacillary load. It is recommended to adopt health life style by a complete halt of tobacco smoking and active screening of TB patients to reach the unreached within appropriate time frame.
Key words: Sputum Conversion, tobacco, smoking, pre-treatment bacterial load, tuberculosis.