Factors affecting sputum smear conversion time in newly diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis patients

ABSTRACT

Background: Patients having tuberculosis are registered in the TB DOTS program for their treatment. During the treatment sputum samples are sent periodically to the laboratory to check treatment efficacy. Usually after two months of treatment sputum smear becomes negative but presence of multiple cavities in the lung, bacillary load, diabetes mellitus and tobacco smoking, slows the sputum smear conversion time