Table 3.

Summary of the outcome criteria used in the study

Indicator	Definition
Cure	Treatment completion and: - culture becoming negative on samples taken at the end of treatment and on at least one previous occasion or - sputum microscopy becoming negative for AFB at the end of treatment and on at least one previous occasion.
Treatment completed	Treatment completion, not meeting the criteria to be classified as Cured or Failed
Death	Death before starting treatment or during treatment, irrespective of cause.
Transfer out	Patient referred to another clinical unit for treatment and final outcome unknown
Failed	Culture or sputum microscopy remaining positive or becoming positive again at 5 months or later during treatment.
Default	Treatment interrupted for 2 consecutive months, or more for reasons due to patient.
Physician's decision to stop early	Treatment interrupted for 2 consecutive months, or more due to physician's decision.
On treatment at 12 months	Patient still on treatment at 12 months who did not meet any other outcome during treatment. This includes patients with: - initial treatment changed due to polyresistance (ie. resistance to at least two first line drugs) on the isolate taken at the start of treatment. - treatment prolonged because of side effects/complications - initial regimen planned for >12 months - information on the reasons for being still on treatment not available
Not known	Information on outcome not available, for cases not known to have been transferred