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. 2018 Jul 6;13(7):e0200150. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0200150

Table 2. Baseline sputum grading and drug susceptibility profile of new smear positive pulmonary TB patients.

Sputum smear and culture status Total
n (%)
Sputum smear maximum N = 1565
grade* Scanty positive 127 (8)
1+ 578 (37)
2+ 389 (25)
3+ 471 (30)
Sputum culture status N = 1565
Any one culture Mtb positive 1368 (87)
Culture negative 166 (11)
Non-Tuberculous mycobacteria 8 (<1)
Contaminated 18 (1)
Sample insufficient 5 (<1)
Sputum culture maximum N = 1368
grade Colonies 60 (4)
1+ 626 (46)
2+ 494 (36)
3+ 188 (14)
Drug susceptibility profile N = 1304
Susceptible to H, R, E 1173(90)
Resistant to any drug 131 (10)
Resistant to H 77
Resistant to R 6
Resistant to E 27
Resistant to HR 3
Resistant to HE 7
Resistant to ER 1
Resistant to HRE 10

*Under RNTCP, as per standard of care, 2 sputum specimens are examined for smear. Grading by Ziehl Neelsen staining as follows: Negative—No AFB in 100 fields, Scanty = 1–9 AFB per 100 fields, 1+ = 10–99 AFB per 100 fields, 2+ = 1–10 AFB per field, 3+ = > 10 AFB per oil immersion field [6]. Grading by Auramine O Fluoresent staining is as follows: Negative—No AFB in 100 fields, 1+ = 1–10 AFB per 100 fields, 2+ = 11–100 AFB per 50 fields, 3+ = > 100 AFB per 20 fields [6].

H: Isoniazid, R: Rifampicin, E: Ethambutol