The rate of sputum smear-positive tuberculosis after treatment default in a high-burden setting : a retrospective cohort study
Date
2012-09
Authors
Marx, Florian M.
Dunbar, Rory
Enarson, Donald A.
Beyers, Nulda
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
PLoS
Abstract
Rationale: High rates of recurrent tuberculosis after successful treatment have been reported from different high burden settings in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, little is known about the rate of smear-positive tuberculosis after treatment default. In particular, it is not known whether or not treatment defaulters continue to be or become again smear-positive and thus pose a potential for transmission of infection to others.
Objective: To investigate, in a high tuberculosis burden setting, the rate of re-treatment for smear-positive tuberculosis among cases defaulting from standardized treatment compared to successfully treated cases.
Methods: Retrospective cohort study among smear-positive tuberculosis cases treated between 1996 and 2008 in two urban communities in Cape Town, South Africa. Episodes of re-treatment for smear-positive tuberculosis were ascertained via probabilistic record linkage. Survival analysis and Poisson regression were used to compare the rate of smear-positive tuberculosis after treatment default to that after successful treatment.
Results: A total of 2,136 smear-positive tuberculosis cases were included in the study. After treatment default, the rate of retreatment for smear-positive tuberculosis was 6.86 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.59–8.41) per 100 person-years compared to 2.09 (95% CI: 1.81–2.41) after cure (adjusted Hazard Ratio [aHR]: 3.97; 95% CI: 3.00–5.26). Among defaulters, the rate was inversely associated with treatment duration and sputum conversion prior to defaulting. Smear grade at start of the index treatment episode (Smear3+: aHR 1.61; 95%CI 1.11–2.33) was independently associated with smear-positive tuberculosis retreatment,
regardless of treatment outcome.
Conclusions: In this high-burden setting, there is a high rate of subsequent smear-positive tuberculosis after treatment default. Treatment defaulters are therefore likely to contribute to the pool of infectious source cases in the community. Our findings underscore the importance of preventing treatment default, as a means of successful tuberculosis control in highburden settings.
Description
Publication of this article was funded by the Stellenbosch University Open Access Fund.
The original publication is available at http://www.plosone.org/
9 p. : ill.
Bibliography
The original publication is available at http://www.plosone.org/
9 p. : ill.
Bibliography
Keywords
Tuberculosis -- Complications, Sputum -- Examination -- Tuberculosis, Tuberculosis -- Prognosis -- South Africa -- Cape Town
Citation
Marx, F., Dunbar, R., Enarson, D. A. & Beyers, N. 2012. The rate of sputum smear-positive Tuberculosis after treatment default in a high-burden setting: a retrospective cohort study. PLoS ONE, 7(9): e45724, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0045724.