Profile and determinants of unsuccessful tuberculosis outcome in rural Nigeria: Implications for tuberculosis control

Treatment success rate and associated factors among drug susceptible tuberculosis individuals in St. Kizito Hospital, Matany, Napak district, Karamoja region. A retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading cause of death among infectious agents globally. An estimated 10 million people are newly diagnosed and 1.5 million die of the disease annually. Uganda is among the 30 high TB-burdenedd countries, with Karamoja having a significant contribution of the disease incidence in the country. Control of the disease in Karamoja is complex because a majority of the at-risk population remain mobile; partly because of the nomadic lifestyle. This study, therefore, aimed at describing the factors associated with drug-susceptible TB treatment success rate (TSR) in the Karamoja region.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study on case notes of all individuals diagnosed with and treated for drug-susceptible TB at St. Kizito Hospital Matany, Napak district, Karamoja from 1st Jan 2020 to 31st December 2021. Data were abstracted using a customised data abstraction tool. Data analyses were done using Stata statistical software, version 15.0. Chi-square test was conducted to compare treatment success rates between years 2020 and 2021, while Modified Poisson regression analysis was performed at multivariable level to determine the factors associated with treatment success.

RESULTS

We studied records of 1234 participants whose median age was 31 (IQR: 13-49) years. Children below 15 years of age accounted for 26.2% (n = 323). The overall treatment success rate for the study period was 79.3%(95%CI; 77.0%-81.5%), with a statistically significant variation in 2020 and 2021, 75.4% (422/560) vs 82.4% (557/674) respectively, (P = 0.002). The commonest reported treatment outcome was treatment completion at 52%(n = 647) and death was at 10.4% (n = 129). Older age, undernutrition (Red MUAC), and HIV-positive status were significantly associated with lower treatment success: aPR = 0.87(95%CI; 0.80-0.94), aPR = 0.91 (95%CI; 0.85-0.98) and aPR = 0.88 (95%CI; 0.78-0.98); respectively. Patients who were enrolled in 2021 had a high prevalence of treatment success compared to those enrolled in 2020, aPR = 1.09 (95%CI; 1.03-1.16).

CONCLUSION

TB TSR in Matany Hospital was suboptimal. Older age, poor nutrition, and being HIV-positive were negative predictors of treatment success. We propose integrating nutrition and HIV care into TB programming to improve treatment success.

Spatial and temporal analysis of tuberculosis incidence in Guinea-Bissau, 2018 to 2020

OBJECTIVE

to analyze the epidemiological profile, spatial and temporal distribution of tuberculosis in Guinea-Bissau from 2018 to 2020.

METHODS

an ecological study, carried out in Guinea-Bissau, considering new cases of tuberculosis. Spatial analysis of areas was used to verify tuberculosis distribution in the country, and time series were used to identify incidence evolution over the years of study.

RESULTS

a total of 6,840 new cases of tuberculosis were reported. Tuberculosis incidence rate in the country ranged from 36.8 to 267.7 cases/100,000 inhabitants, with emphasis on the regions of Bissau and Biombo (over 90 cases/100,000). By using time series, it was possible to observe an increase in case incidence over the years of study.

CONCLUSIONS

the study made it possible to identify the epidemiological profile of tuberculosis in Guinea-Bissau, spatial distribution heterogeneity, in addition to identifying the disease evolution over the years of investigation.

Treatment outcome and its associated factors among HIV-MTB co-infected patients in Sichuan, China: A retrospective study

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) co-infection has become a pressing global public health problem. Although tuberculosis (TB) is both treatable and curable, it has been exacerbated by the HIV/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic. HIV-MTB co-infected patients have a variety of disease-specific, and treatment-related factors that can adversely affect their treatment outcomes. This study was conducted to assess the outcomes of TB treatment and its associated factors among HIV-MTB co-infected patients in Sichuan, Southwest China. A retrospective study was performed on HIV-MTB co-infected patients who were diagnosed and registered in TB designated hospitals in Sichuan from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2020. Data were collected from patients' electronic medical records regarding their demographic, clinical, and social support information, and categorical data, such as sex, were reported using numbers and percentages. χ2 and t-tests were conducted to compare groups in relation to different levels of medical institutions. A binary logistic regression model was used to identify the factors associated with unsuccessful TB treatment outcomes. For logistic regression analysis performed using an α of 0.05, odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for various risk factors. A total of 3677 registered HIV-MTB co-infected patients were enrolled. After adjusting for other variables, male, advanced age, receiving TB treatment at the municipal medical institution, being diagnosed with external pulmonary TB, referral or tracing, being sputum smear positive, not initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) and not using fixed-dose combinations were the main risk factors for treatment failure of HIV-MTB co-infected patients in Sichuan province. Sex, age, hospital level, patient source, other diagnostic factors (e.g., sputum smear results, anatomical site of TB), and factors of therapeutic schemes (e.g., antiretroviral therapy, fixed-dose combinations) may serve as risk factors to estimate the likely treatment outcome of HIV-TB co-infection.

Knowledge about tuberculosis, treatment adherence and outcome among ambulatory patients with drug-sensitive tuberculosis in two directly-observed treatment centres in Southwest Nigeria

BACKGROUND

Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the most common infectious diseases worldwide. Although TB is curable provided the treatment commenced quickly, appropriately and uninterrupted throughout TB treatment duration. However, high default rate, treatment interruption and therapy non-adherence coupled with inadequate disease knowledge significantly contribute to poor TB treatment outcome, especially in developing countries. This study therefore assessed knowledge about TB and possible reasons for treatment non-adherence among drug-sensitive TB (DS-TB) patients, as well as evaluated treatment outcomes for the DS-TB managed within a 5-year period.

METHODS

A mixed-method design comprising a cross-sectional questionnaire-guided survey among 140-ambulatory DS-TB patients from January-March 2019, and a retrospective review of medical-records of DS-TB managed from 2013 to 2017 in two WHO-certified TB directly-observed-treatment centres. Data were summarized using descriptive statistics, while categorical variables were evaluated with Chi-square at p < 0.05.

RESULTS

Among the prospective DS-TB patients, males were 77(55.0%) and females were 63(45.0%). Most (63;45.0%) belonged to ages 18-34 years. A substantial proportion knew that TB is curable (137;97.9%) and transmittable (128;91.4%), while 107(46.1%) accurately cited coughing without covering the mouth as a principal mode of transmission. Only 10(4.0%) mentioned adherence to TB medications as a measure to prevent transmission. Inaccessibility to healthcare facility (33;55.0%) and pill-burden (10,16.7%) were topmost reasons for TB treatment non-adherence. Of the 2262-DS-TB patients whose treatment outcomes were evaluated, 1211(53.5%) were cured, 580(25.6%) had treatment completed, 240(10.6%) defaulted, 54(2.3%) failed treatment and 177(7.8%) died. Overall, the treatment success rate within the 5-year period ranged from 77.4 to 81.9%.

CONCLUSIONS

Knowledge about TB among the prospective DS-TB patients is relatively high, especially with respect to modes of TB transmission and preventive measures, but a sizeable number lacks the understanding of ensuring optimal TB medication-adherence to prevent TB transmission. Inaccessibility to healthcare facility largely accounts for treatment non-adherence. Outcomes of treatment within the 5-year period show that nearly half were cured, while almost one-tenth died. Overall treatment success rate is about 12% below the WHO-defined target. There is generally a need for concerned stakeholders to step-up efforts in ensuring consistent TB enlightenment, while improving access to TB care is essential for better treatment outcome.

Influence of patients' living conditions on tuberculosis treatment outcomes in a South African health sub-district

BACKGROUND

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a serious public health concern because it continues devastating communities. This survey was conducted in the sub-district 2 of the Tshwane health district, South Africa. It aimed at determining the influence of patients' living conditions on TB treatment outcomes. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status, food security and exposure to cigarette smoke were considered as living conditions; and cure, death, default, failure and relapse were considered TB treatment outcomes.

METHODS

Record review using the Aitahealth database, clinic registers as well as a piloted, structured and administered questionnaire.

RESULTS

Convenience sampling applied; 180 respondents were obtained. Tuberculosis respondents with negative HIV status had a cure rate of 67.3% whilst those with positive HIV status had 37%. Tuberculosis respondents with good food security had 45.9% of cure rate. Tuberculosis respondents exposed to cigarette smoke had a death rate of 65.2%, while respondents not exposed to cigarette smoke showed 75% of cure rate.

CONCLUSION

HIV status, food security and exposure to cigarette smoke, as components of living conditions, showed an association with TB treatment outcomes in the selected sample; in the sense HIV infection reduced the cure rate, increased the death and default rates of TB patients in the same sample. Good food security increased the cure rate of TB patients, but exposure to cigarette smoke decreased the cure rate and increased the death rate amongst respondents having TB treatment in the current survey.

Tuberculosis treatment outcomes and associated factors in two states in Nigeria

OBJECTIVE

To determine the treatment success rate among TB patients and associated factors in Anambra and Oyo, the two states with the largest burden of tuberculosis in Nigeria.

METHODS

A health facility record review for 2016 was conducted in the two states (Anambra and Oyo). A checklist was used to extract relevant information from the records kept in each of the selected DOTS facilities to determine TB treatment success rates. Treatment success rate was defined as the proportion of new smear-positive TB cases registered under DOTS in a given year that successfully completed treatment, whether with bacteriologic evidence of success ('cured') or without ('treatment completed'). Treatment success rate was classified into good (≥85%) and poor (<85%) success rates using the 85% national target for TB treatment outcome. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and chi-square at P < 0.05.

RESULTS

There were 1281 TB treatment enrollees in 2016 in Anambra and 3809 in Oyo (total = 4835). An overall treatment success rate of 75.8% was achieved (Anambra-57.5%; Oyo-82.0%). The percentage cure rates were 61.5% for Anambra and 85.2% for Oyo. Overall, only 28.6% of the facilities in both states (Anambra-0.0%; Oyo-60.0%) had a good treatment success rate. More facilities in Anambra (100.0%) than Oyo (40.0%) had a poor treatment success rate (p < 0.001), as did more private/FBO (100.0%) than public health facilities (60.0%) (p = 0.009). All tertiary facilities had a poor treatment success rate followed by 87.5% of secondary health facilities and 56.5% of primary healthcare facilities (P = 0.035).

CONCLUSION

Treatment success and cure rates in Anambra state were below the 85.0% of the recommended target set by the WHO. Geographical location, and level/tier and type of facility were factors associated with this. Interventions are recommended to address these problems.

Explaining the successes and failures of tuberculosis treatment programs; a tale of two regions in rural eastern Uganda

Background

Optimally performing tuberculosis (TB) programs are characterized by treatment success rate (TSR) of at least 90%. In rural eastern Uganda, and elsewhere in sub Saharan Africa, TSR varies considerably across district TB programs and the reasons for the differences are unclear. This study explored factors associated with the low and high TSR across four districts in rural eastern Uganda.

Methods

We interviewed District TB and Leprosy Supervisors, Laboratory focal persons, and health facility TB focal persons from four districts in eastern Uganda as key informants. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and imported into ATLAs.ti where thematic content analysis was performed and results were summarized into themes.

Results

The emerging themes were categorized as either facilitators of or barriers to treatment success. The emerging facilitators prevailing in the districts with high rates of treatment success were using data to make decisions and design interventions, continuous quality improvement, capacity building, and prioritization of better management of people with TB. The barriers common in districts with low rates of treatment success included lack of motivated and dedicated TB focal persons, scarce or no funding for implementing TB activities, and a poor implementation of community-based directly observed therapy short course.

Conclusion

This study shows that several factors are associated with the differing rates of treatment success in rural eastern Uganda. These factors should be the focus for TB control programs in Uganda and similar settings in order to improve rates of treatment success.

Reflecting on tuberculosis case notification and treatment outcomes in the Volta region of Ghana: a retrospective pool analysis of a multicentre cohort from 2013 to 2017

BACKGROUND

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a petrified condition with a huge economic and health impact on families and health systems in Ghana. Monitoring of TB programme performance indicators can provide reliable data for direct measurement of TB incidence and mortality. This study reflects on the trends of TB case notification and treatment outcomes and makes comparison among 10 districts of the Volta region of Ghana.

METHODS

This was a retrospective analysis of surveillance data of a cohort of TB cases from 2013 to 2017. Trends of case notification and treatment outcomes were examined and compared. Logistic regression was used to determine the independent relationship between patients and disease characteristics and unsuccessful treatment outcomes. Odds ratios, 95% confidence intervals and p-values were estimated.

RESULTS

A gradual declining trend of case notification of all forms of TB was noticed, with an overall case notification rate (CNR) of 65 cases per 100,000 population during the period. A wide variation of case notification of TB was observed among the districts, ranging from 32 to 124 cases per 100,000 population. Similarly, treatment success rate decreased slightly from 83.1% during the first year to 80.2% in 2017, with an overall treatment success rate of 82.5% (95% CI: 81.3-83.8%). Treatment failure, death, and lost to follow up rates were 0.8% (range 0.5-1.2%), 13.5% (range 12.4-14.7%), and 3.1% (range 2.6-3.8%) respectively. The treatment success rate among districts ranged from 70.5% in South Tongu to 90.8% in Krachi West district. Returned after treatment interruption (Adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 3.62; 95% CI: 1.66-7.91; P < 0.001) and TB/HIV co-infection (AOR: 1.94; 95% CI: 1.57-2.40; P < 0.001) predicts poor treatment outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Over the past five years, TB case notification and successful treatment outcomes did not significantly improve. Wide district variations in CNR was observed. The overall treatment success rate observed in this study is below the target of > 90% set by the World Health Organization's (WHO) end TB strategy. Additionally, patients who returned to continue treatment after interruption and those who were co-infected with HIV strongly predict unsuccessful treatment outcomes. Sustained interventions to prevent treatment interruptions and improved management of co-morbidities can enhance treatment outcomes, as required to achieve the elimination goal.

Trend and determinants of tuberculosis treatment outcome in a tertiary hospital in Southeast Nigeria

INTRODUCTION

Nigeria ranked 7th among the high TB burden nations globally and second most endemic in Africa. There are several highly effective interventions available for tuberculosis control. Operational challenges have been reported to interfere with the success of these interventions. This review was conducted to ascertain the treatment outcome using the Directly Observed Short Course Strategy implemented in the hospital.

METHODS

A retrospective review of the Tuberculosis treatment was conducted in former Ebonyi State Teaching Hospital and Federal Teaching Hospital from 2008 to 2014 as part of the departmental critique of patients' clinical care and tuberculosis control activities. Using the facility's TB treatment register, information on the patient's demography, clinical characteristics and treatment outcome was extracted. The data were analyzed using Epi Info version 7.2. Frequencies and proportions were calculated.

RESULTS

A total of 1070 cases were reviewed with majority 491 (45.9%) belonging to 25-44 years age group. There were 585 (54.7%) males and 68 (11.6%) paediatrics. Pulmonary tuberculosis (667, 62.3%) was the most common presentation. Among those that did sputum smear AFB, 53.2% were smear negative. In all, 91.2% of the cases were treatment naïve, 59.1% were HIV negative at beginning of their treatment while 8% had unknown HIV status. Of the treatment outcome, 40.5% were classified as treatment completed, 16.0% cured, 17.4% of the cases defaulted while 14.1% of the cases died on treatment. These patients were often referred from primary and secondary level hospitals.

CONCLUSIONS

The cure rate was very poor and treatment default rate high. The high default rate could be due to the referral nature of the hospital. The treatment success rate of 56.5% is still far below the national target of 85% treatment success rate for effective tuberculosis control. An operational research is recommended to elicit the root causes of low treatment success rate and high patient default rate.

Factors associated with unfavourable tuberculosis treatment outcomes in Lusaka, Zambia, 2015: a secondary analysis of routine surveillance data

Introduction

Focus has been put on strengthening surveillance systems in high tuberculosis (TB) burden countries, like Zambia, however inadequate information on factors associated with unfavourable TB treatment outcomes is generated from the system. We determined the proportion of tuberculosis treatment outcomes and their associated factors.

Methods

We defined unfavourable outcome as death, lost-to-follow-up, treatment-failure, or not-evaluated and favourable outcome as a patient cured or completed-treatment. We purposively selected a 1^st level hospital, an urban-clinic and a peri-urban clinic. We abstracted data from TB treatment registers at these three health facilities, for all TB cases on treatment from 1^st January to 31^st December, 2015. We calculated proportions of treatment outcomes and analysed associations between unfavourable outcome and factors such as age, HIV status, health facility, and patient type, using univariate logistics regression. We used multivariable stepwise logistic regression to control for confounding and reported the adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results

We included a total of 1,724 registered TB patients, from one urban clinic 694 (40%), a 1^st Level Hospital 654 (38%), and one peri-urban-clinic 276 (22%). Of the total patients, 43% had unfavourable outcomes. Of the total unfavourable outcomes, were recorded as treatment-failure (0.3%), lost-to-follow-up (5%), death (9%) and not evaluated (29%). The odds of unfavourable outcome were higher among patients > 59 years (AOR=2.9, 95%CI: 1.44-5.79), relapses (AOR=1.65, 95%CI: 1.15-2.38), patients who sought treatment at the urban clinic (AOR=1.76, 95%CI:1.27-2.42) and TB/HIV co-infected patients (AOR=1.56, 95%CI:1.11-2.19).

Conclusion

Unfavourable TB treatment outcomes were high in the selected facilities. We recommend special attention to TB patients who are > 59 years old, TB relapses and TB / HIV co-infected. The national TB programme should strengthen close monitoring of health facilities in increasing efforts aimed at evaluating all the outcomes. Studies are required to identify and test interventions aimed at improving treatment outcomes.

Extra-pulmonary tuberculosis: A retrospective study of patients in Accra, Ghana

Background

Information on extrapulmonary TB (EPTB) patients is limited in many African countries including Ghana. The study objective was to describe the epidemiology of EPTB patients diagnosed from different categories of health facilities in Accra, Ghana compared to pulmonary TB (PTB) patients and identify risk factors for mortality among EPTB patients.

Method

We conducted retrospective analyses of demographic and clinical data accessed from medical records of EPTB and PTB patients from different types of health facilities from June 2010 to December 2013. Factors at diagnosis associated with EPTB compared to pulmonary TB (PTB) and factors associated with treatment outcome death among EPTB patients were assessed using logistic regression.

Results

Out of 3,342 new TB patients ≥15 years diagnosed, 728 (21.8%) had EPTB with a male: female ratio of 1.17. The EPTB sites commonly affected were disseminated 32.8%, pleura 21%, spine 13%, and Central Nervous System (CNS) 11%. Treatment success rate for EPTB was 70.1% compared to 84.2% for PTB (p<0.001). In logistic regression, HIV positivity (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] 3.19; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.69–3.79) and female gender (aOR 1.59; 95% CI 1.35–1.88) were found to be significantly associated with EPTB compared with PTB. Older age, being HIV positive (aOR 3.15; 95% CI 1.20–8.25) and having CNS TB (aOR 3.88; 95% CI 1.14–13.23) were associated with mortality among EPTB patients. While more EPTB patients were diagnosed in the tertiary hospital, health facility type was not associated with mortality.

Conclusion

EPTB patients in Accra have a worse treatment outcome compared to PTB patients with mortality of EPTB being associated with HIV, older age and CNS TB. Being HIV positive and female gender were found to be significantly associated with EPTB. Increased awareness of these factors may facilitate early case finding and better management outcomes for these patients.

The impact of rural residence and HIV infection on poor tuberculosis treatment outcomes in a large urban hospital: a retrospective cohort analysis

BACKGROUND

Successful tuberculosis (TB) treatment is essential to effective TB control. TB-HIV coinfection, social determinants and access to services influenced by rural residence can affect treatment outcome. We examined the separate and joint effects of rural residence and HIV infection on poor treatment outcome among patients enrolled in a large TB treatment centre in Kano, Nigeria.

METHODS

We retrospectively analysed a cohort of patients with TB enrolled in a large urban TB clinic in northern Nigeria, from January 2010 to December 2014. Poor treatment outcome was defined as death, default or treatment failure. We used Poisson regression to model rates and determine the relative risks (and 95% confidence intervals, CI) of poor treatment outcomes.

RESULTS

Among 1381 patients included in the analysis, 28.4% were rural residents; 39.8% were HIV-positive; and 46.1% had a poor treatment outcome. Approximately 65 and 38% of rural and urban residents, respectively, had a poor treatment outcome. Rural residents had 2.74 times (95% CI: 2.27-3.29) the risk of having a poor treatment outcome compared to urban residents. HIV-positive patients had 1.4 times (95% CI: 1.16-1.69) the risk of poor treatment outcome compared to HIV-negative patients. The proportion of poor treatment outcome attributable to rural residence (population attributable fraction, PAF) was 25.6%. The PAF for HIV infection was 11.9%. The effect of rural residence on poor treatment outcome among HIV-negative patients (aRR:4.07; 95%CI:3.15-5.25) was more than twice that among HIV-positive patients (aRR:1.99; 95%CI:1.49-2.64).

CONCLUSION

Rural residents attending a large Nigerian TB clinic are at increased risk of having poor treatment outcomes, and this risk is amplified among those that are HIV-negative. Our findings indicate that rural coverage of HIV services may be better than TB services. These findings highlight the importance of expanding coverage of TB services to ensure prompt diagnosis and commencement of treatment, especially among rural-dwellers in resource-limited settings.

Do retreatment tuberculosis patients need special treatment response follow-up beyond the standard regimen? Finding of five-year retrospective study in pastoralist setting

BACKGROUND

Treatment outcomes serve as proxy measures of the quality of tuberculosis treatment provided by the health care system, and it is essential to evaluate the effectiveness of Directly Observed Therapy-Short course program in controlling the disease, and reducing treatment failure, default and death. Hence, we evaluated tuberculosis treatment success rate, its trends and predictors of unsuccessful treatment outcome in Ethiopian Somali region where 85% of its population is pastoralist.

METHODS

A retrospective review of 5 years data (September 2009 to August 2014) was conducted to evaluate the treatment outcome of 1378 randomly selected tuberculosis patients treated in Kharamara, Dege-habour and Gode hospitals. We extracted data on socio-demographics, HIV Sero-status, tuberculosis type, treatment outcome and year using clinical chart abstraction sheet. Tuberculosis treatment outcomes were categorized into successful (cured and/or completed) and unsuccessful (died/failed/default) according to the national tuberculosis guideline. Data was entered using EpiData 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS 20. Chi-square (χ2) test and logistic regression model were used to reveal the predictors of unsuccessful treatment outcome at P ≤ 0.05 significance level.

RESULT

The majority of participants was male (59.1%), pulmonary smear negative (49.2%) and new cases (90.6%). The median age was 26 years [IQR: 18-40] and HIV co-infection rate was 4.6%. The overall treatment success rate was 86.8% [95%CI: 84.9% - 88.5%]; however, 4.8%, 7.6% and 0.7% of patients died, defaulted and failed to cure respectively. It fluctuated across the years and ranged from 76.9% to 94% [p < 0.001]. The odds of death/failure [AOR = 2.4; 95%CI = 1.4-3.9] and pulmonary smear positivity [AOR = 2.3; 95%CI = 1.6-3.5] were considerably higher among retreatment patients compared to new counterparts. Unsuccessful treatment outcome was significantly higher in less urbanized hospitals [p < 0.001]. Treatment success rate had insignificant difference between age groups, genders, tuberculosis types and HIV status (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

This study revealed that the overall tuberculosis treatment success rate has realized the global target for 2011-2015. However, it does not guarantee its continuity as adverse treatment outcomes might unpredictably occur anytime and anywhere. Therefore, continual effort to effectively execute DOTS should be strengthened and special follow-up mechanism should be in place to monitor treatment response of retreatment cases.

Evaluating treatment outcomes and durations among cases of smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis in Yemen: a prospective follow-up study

BACKGROUND

Evaluating outcomes after tuberculosis (TB) treatment can help identify the primary reasons for treatment success or failure. However, Yemen has a treatment success rate that remains below the World Health Organization's target. This study aimed to identify factors that were associated with unsuccessful treatment and prolonged treatment (>1 year).

METHOD

Newly diagnosed cases of smear-positive pulmonary TB were prospectively followed at two centers (Taiz and Alhodidah, Yemen) between April 2014 and March 2015. Standardized forms were used to obtain information from the patients regarding their socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, treatment duration, and TB-related information. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors that were associated with unsuccessful treatment and prolonged treatment (>1 year).

RESULTS

The study included data from 273 cases of newly diagnosed TB, with treatment being successful in 227 cases (83.1%) and unsuccessful in 46 cases (16.9%). Among the 46 patients with unsuccessful treatment, 29 patients (10.6%) stopped treatment, 6 patients (2.2%) transferred to another facility, 6 patients (2.2%) experienced treatment failure, and 5 patients (1.8%) died. The multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that unsuccessful treatment was associated with female sex, illiterate status, and the presence of comorbidities. Prolonged treatment durations were associated with living in a rural area, smoking, chewing khat, a cough that lasted for >3 weeks at the beginning of treatment, and bilateral cavities during radiography.

CONCLUSION

These results confirm that the treatment success rate in Yemen is lower than the World Health Organization's target for smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis. Targeting the risk factors that we identified may help improve treatment outcomes. Furthermore, it may not be prudent to re-treat patients using first-line TB drugs after an initial treatment failure.

Tuberculosis treatment success among rural and urban Ugandans living with HIV: a retrospective study

Setting: Government health centres and hospitals (six urban and 20 rural) providing tuberculosis (TB) treatment for people living with the human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV) in central and western Uganda. Objective: To identify and quantify modifiable factors that limit TB treatment success among PLHIV in rural Uganda. Design: A retrospective cross-sectional review of routine Uganda National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Programme clinic registers and patient files of HIV-positive patients who received anti-tuberculosis treatment in 2014. Results: Of 191 rural patients, 66.7% achieved treatment success compared to 81.1% of 213 urban patients. Adjusted analysis revealed higher average treatment success in urban patients than in rural patients (OR 3.95, 95%CI 2.70-5.78, P < 0.01, generalised estimating equation model). Loss to follow-up was higher and follow-up sputum smear results were less frequently recorded in TB clinic registers among rural patients. Patients receiving treatment at higher-level facilities in rural settings had greater odds of treatment success, while patients receiving treatment at facilities where drug stock-outs had occurred had lower odds of treatment success. Conclusion: Lower reported treatment success in rural settings is mainly attributed to clinic-centred factors such as treatment monitoring procedures. We recommend strengthening treatment monitoring and delivery.

Risk factors for differential outcome following directly observed treatment (DOT) of slum and non-slum tuberculosis patients: a retrospective cohort study

Background

Brazil’s National Tuberculosis Control Program seeks to improve tuberculosis (TB) treatment in vulnerable populations. Slum residents are more vulnerable to TB due to a variety of factors, including their overcrowded living conditions, substandard infrastructure, and limited access to healthcare compared to their non-slum dwelling counterparts. Directly observed treatment (DOT) has been suggested to improve TB treatment outcomes among vulnerable populations, but the program’s differential effectiveness among urban slum and non-slum residents is not known.

Methods

We retrospectively compared the impact of DOT on TB treatment outcome in residents of slum and non-slum census tracts in Rio de Janeiro reported to the Brazilian Notifiable Disease Database in 2010. Patient residential addresses were geocoded to census tracts from the 2010 Brazilian Census, which were identified as slum (aglomerados subnormais -AGSN) and non-slum (non-AGSN) by the Census Bureau. Homeless and incarcerated cases as well as those geocoded outside the city’s limits were excluded from analysis.

Results

In 2010, 6,601 TB cases were geocoded within Rio de Janeiro; 1,874 (27.4 %) were residents of AGSN, and 4,794 (72.6 %) did not reside in an AGSN area. DOT coverage among AGSN cases was 35.2 % (n = 638), while the coverage in non-AGSN cases was 26.2 % (n = 1,234). Clinical characteristics, treatment, follow-up, cure, death and abandonment were similar in both AGSN and non-AGSN TB patients. After adjusting for covariates, AGSN TB cases on DOT had 1.67 (95 % CI: 1.17, 2.4) times the risk of cure, 0.61 (95 % CI: 0.41, 0.90) times the risk of abandonment, and 0.1 (95 % CI: 0.01, 0.77) times the risk of death from TB compared to non-AGSN TB cases not on DOT.

Conclusion

While DOT coverage was low among TB cases in both AGSN and non-AGSN communities, it had a greater impact on TB cure rate in AGSN than in non-AGSN populations in the city of Rio de Janeiro.