Effectiveness of Treatment in New Cases of Smear Positive for Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Prakoanchai Hospital

Abstract

Background: Pulmonary tuberculosis is the most serious infectious disease throughout the world and the leading cause of worldwide mortality from isolated infection. Treatment was aimed to reduce morbidity and mortality rate, dispersion rate of pulmonary tuberculosis and to achieve at least about 85% of curable rate.
Objective: To study effectiveness of treatment in new cases of smear positive for pulmonary tuberculosis with 2HRZE/4HR regimen in Prakoanchai hospital during the 1st of October 2003 to the 30th of September 2005.
Study design: Retrospective descriptive study.
Method: The data were collected from the medical records in the computer database and TB registration forms in Prakoanchai hospital from the 1st of October 2003 to the 30th of September 2005.
Result: The study revealed the number of new patients with smear positive for pulmonary tuberculosis in fiscal year 2003 and 2005 were 47 and 52 respectively, almost were men. The proportion of male patients to female patients was 2.1 : 1 and 1.6 : 1 in fiscal year 2003 and 2005 respectively. The highest prevalence age group was between 51-70 years of age. The most significant underlying disease was diabetes mellitus. Rash tended to occur as the most common complication. The curable rate was 59.27% and 76.92% respectively.
Conclusion: Effectiveness of treatment in new cases of smear positive for pulmonary tuberculosis in Prakoanchai hospital during the 1st of October 2003 to the 30th of September 2005 could not achieve goal of national infectious committee and WHO. The author's suggestion to escalate the curable rate was the collaboration between the medical personnels and the patients regarded to drug compliance according to DOTS program.