OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the factors affecting the time between the initiation of treatment and obtaining three negative sputum smears. DESIGN: In a study of 109 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, the main variable was the period during which the patients had sputum smears once treatment was initiated. Multivariate analysis (multiple linear regression) was performed to document those variables independently associated with time to conversion. RESULTS: The patients had positive smears for a mean of 28.63 days. The most frequent radiographic pattern was cavitary disease (36.7%). HIV co-infection was present in 38.5% of the patients. HIV-infected patients showed a cavitation pattern in only 9.6% vs 52.2% of patients without HIV infection (P < 0.001). The variables that showed a statistically significant and independent relationship with the time to sputum smear conversion were pulmonary radiographic pattern, age and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). CONCLUSIONS: ESR, age and the presence of cavitary disease seem to be factors associated with a longer time to sputum smear conversion in patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis. However, HIV co-infection is associated with a shorter time to sputum conversion. A key factor is therefore the presence or not of cavitation, independently of HIV infection.
OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the factors affecting the time between the initiation of treatment and obtaining three negative sputum smears. DESIGN: In a study of 109 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, the main variable was the period during which the patients had sputum smears once treatment was initiated. Multivariate analysis (multiple linear regression) was performed to document those variables independently associated with time to conversion. RESULTS: The patients had positive smears for a mean of 28.63 days. The most frequent radiographic pattern was cavitary disease (36.7%). HIV co-infection was present in 38.5% of the patients. HIV-infectedpatients showed a cavitation pattern in only 9.6% vs 52.2% of patients without HIV infection (P < 0.001). The variables that showed a statistically significant and independent relationship with the time to sputum smear conversion were pulmonary radiographic pattern, age and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). CONCLUSIONS: ESR, age and the presence of cavitary disease seem to be factors associated with a longer time to sputum smear conversion in patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis. However, HIV co-infection is associated with a shorter time to sputum conversion. A key factor is therefore the presence or not of cavitation, independently of HIV infection.
Authors: Trevino A Pakasi; Elvina Karyadi; Ni Made Desy Suratih; Michael Salean; Nining Darmawidjaja; Hans Bor; Koos van der Velden; Wil M V Dolmans; Jos W M van der Meer Journal: Nutr J Date: 2010-09-28 Impact factor: 3.271
Authors: Anna K Coussens; Robert J Wilkinson; Vladyslav Nikolayevskyy; Paul T Elkington; Yasmeen Hanifa; Kamrul Islam; Peter M Timms; Graham H Bothamley; Alleyna P Claxton; Geoffrey E Packe; Mathina Darmalingam; Robert N Davidson; Heather J Milburn; Lucy V Baker; Richard D Barker; Francis A Drobniewski; Charles A Mein; Leena Bhaw-Rosun; Rosamond A Nuamah; Christopher J Griffiths; Adrian R Martineau Journal: PLoS Pathog Date: 2013-07-04 Impact factor: 6.823
Authors: Enny Kenangalem; Govert Waramori; Gysje J Pontororing; Emiliana Tjitra; Graeme Maguire; Paul M Kelly; Nicholas M Anstey; Anna P Ralph Journal: PLoS One Date: 2013-09-27 Impact factor: 3.240