Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 1, 2026
The MODS method for diagnosis of tuberculosis and multidrug resistant tuberculosis
Published on: August 11, 2008
Tuberculosis chemotherapy and sputum conversion among HIV-seropositive and HIV-seronegative patients in south-eastern
R Bwire1, M W Borgdorff, V Sticht-Groh
1St. Francis Leprosy Centre, Buluba, Uganda.
Objective:
To investigate if there is a difference in response to tuberculosis treatment between HIV seronegative and HIV seropositive patients following two months of intensive phase tuberculosis treatment.
Design:
Prospective cohort study.
Setting:
St. Francis Leprosy Centre, south-east Uganda.
Subjects:
Four hundred fifty seven patients with never previously treated sputum smear-positive tuberculosis admitted during a two-year period in 1991/1993.
Intervention:
Intensive phase treatment with streptomycin, isoniazid, rifampicin and pyrazinamide.
Main Outcome Measures:
Sputum conversion from a positive to a negative smear at eight weeks of treatment.
Results:
HIV seropositivity prevalence was 28%. Among HIV seronegative patients, conversion to a negative smear status occurred in 76% persons compared to 78% in HIV seropositive patients. This difference was not statistically significant (OR = 0.9; 95% CI, 0.6-1.5). HIV seropositive patients, however, were more likely to die (p = 0.017). A high prevalence of resistance to isoniazid and streptomycin was found. Isoniazid resistance was more likely in HIV seronegative patients with M. tuberculosis strains compared to HIV seropositive persons (p < 0.005). Initial resistance to antituberculosis drugs did not have a significant effect on smear conversion.
Conclusion:
This study demonstrates that HIV-seropositive status is not a principal factor in delaying sputum conversion among patients receiving intensive phase tuberculosis treatment.
