PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Khalid Bouti
AU  - Karima Marc
AU  - Mouna Soualhi
AU  - Rachida Zahraoui
AU  - Jouda Benamor
AU  - Jamal Eddine Bourkadi
AU  - Ghali Iraqi
TI  - Factors influencing sputum conversion among smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Morocco
DP  - 2013 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - P4466
VI  - 42
IP  - Suppl 57
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/Suppl_57/P4466.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/Suppl_57/P4466.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2013 Sep 01; 42
AB  - Background: Sputum smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients expel infectious viable bacilli for a period following commencement of treatment.Objective: To determine the time to sputum smear conversion and study the factors influenceng it.Design: A prospective study was undertaken at our hospital in Rabat over a six months period on a cohort of 119 sputum smear positive patients. Patients were followed up fortnightly. At each follow up, specimens were collected and processed for microscopy using standard protocol.Results: 96.6% of our patients completed the study (4 deaths). Sputum conversion rate was 42% after two weeks, 73% after one month, and 95% after two months. Univariate and stepwise regression analysis showed that patients who had high smear grading, military, bilateral radiologic lesions were more likely to undergo delayed or non-conversion [P <0.05]. Other factors were thought to influence sputum conversion but were not statistically proven in our study.Conclusion: Since viable bacilli continue to be expelled for up to two months, infection control measures should be maintained for such time. Patients with high smear grading, miliary, bilateral radiologic lesions need to be monitored more closely.