TABLE 3.

Culture conversion (month-wise) among MDR/RR-TB patients started on STR in nine DR-TB centres of Nepal, 2018–2019

Month of follow-up	Eligible n	Culture done		Culture conversion*		Culture-positive
		n	(%)†	n	(%)‡	n	(%)‡
Month 1	284	259	(91.1)	140	(54.1)	111	(42.9)
Month 2	276	247	(89.4)	224	(90.7)	20	(8.1)
Month 3	269	230	(85.5)	224	(97.4)	2	(0.9)
Month 4	266	233	(87.5)	224	(96.1)	4	(1.7)
Month 5	262	217	(82.8)	212	(97.7)	2	(0.9)
Month 6	258	219	(84.8)	214	(97.7)	0	(0.0)
Month 7	255	206	(80.7)	201	(97.6)	2	(1.0)
Month 8	255	207	(81.1)	205	(99.0)	1	(0.5)
Month 9	255	207	(81.1)	198	(95.7)	2	(1.0)

^* There was only one case of culture reversion (which was negative at Month 3 but became positive in Months 5 and 7) and was declared treatment failure; all instances of culture positivity in the continuation phase were isolated positive cultures, which were followed by negative cultures and hence declared ‘cured’ or ‘treatment completed’ as appropriate.

^† Row percentage; denominator = all patients started on STR (n = 301).

^‡ Row percentage; denominator = culture done.

MDR/RR-TB = multidrug-resistant/rifampicin-resistant TB; STR = shorter treatment regimen; DR-TB = drug-resistant TB.