A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON EFFICACY OF ANTITUBERCULOSIS DRUGS IN IMMUNOCOMPETENT AND IMMUNOCOMPROMISED SPUTUM POSITIVE PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS PATIENTS

ABSTRACT AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To compare the rate of sputum conversion in new smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis Immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study was conducted at RNTCP (Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme) centre, Madurai Medical College and Rajaji Hospital, Madurai, Tamilnadu between January 2011 to June 2011.The study was a prospective study and consists of totally 100 patients of smear positive Pulmonary Tuberculosis(50 Immunocompetant patients and 50 Immunocompromised patients) (category- ) irrespective of age and sex. RESULTS AND OBSERVATION. In the present study, among immunocompetent patients, 42(84) patients became smear negative at the end of the 2nd month, 48(96) patients became sputum smear negative at the end of 3rd month. Among immunocompromised patients, 45(90) patients became smear negative at the end of 2nd month,50(100) patients became sputum smear negative at the end of 3rd month. SUMMARY CONCLUSION In the present study, sputum conversion at the end of third month was 96 in immunocompetant patients and 100 in immunocompromised patients. P 0.05, hence was not statistically significant. This study demonstrates that HIV seropositive status and DM are not a principal factor in delaying sputum conversion among patients receiving intensive phase tuberculosis treatment.