Journal of Infectious Diseases & Therapy
Open Access

Abstract

Objective: To determine the factors influencing the cure outcome among patients with smear positive tuberculosis.
Methodology: A cross-sectional studywas done to 3937 patients with smear positive tuberculosisfrom 2005 to 2012 in Northeast
Malaysia. Records of the patients were retrieved and data were collected on socio-demographic, clinical presentation and
outcome of the patients. Cure outcome was determined based on Ministry of Health Malaysia for Practice Guidelines for the
Control and Management of Tuberculosis of outcome analysis. Data were analysed with simple and multiple logistic regression
using SPSS v 20.
Results: Out of 3937 patients, 69.5% were male, 24.9% were diabetes, 43.7% were smokers, 16.5% HIV positive, 68.9% have
BCG scar and 13.7% have positive tuberculin test. The finding revealed that 2934 patients with sputum positive patients were
cure (74.5%). Male, older age, positive HIV and single marital status were statistically significant reduced the cure outcome
with (OR, 95% CI; p value) 0.526 (0.334, 0.830); 0.006, 0.976 (0.963, 0.988); 0.001, 0.157 (0.097, 0.253); <0.001and 0.578 (0.368,
0.909); 0.018 respectively. Positive tuberculin test was found significantly increased the cure rate with 2.03 (1.37, 3.01); <0.001.
Conclusion: Close monitoring and reinforcement of DOTS of specific target groups of male, older age, positive HIV, single
marital status and negative tuberculin tests may increase the cure outcome among sputum positive smear tuberculosis.

Biography

Sarimah Abdullah is a senior medical lecturer at Unit of Biostatistics and Research Methodology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia. She
received Master of Community Medicine (Epidemiology and Biostatistics) from USM in 2004. She has experience in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in
epidemiology, biostatistics and research methodology. Her main research focuses on the time series modeling and forecasting on communicable particularly on
tuberculosis and other diseases. Currently, she is also involved in research on domestic violence against women (DVAW).