Treatment outcomes of new smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients in north east Libya

A retrospective study conducted in North East of Libya to evaluate treatment outcome of smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients and factors associated with unsuccessful outcome and treatment default has been developed. Three hundred and twenty seven patients were notified in Kuwaifia chest hospital, Benghazi and Shahat chest hospital, Shahat, during 2007-2008. Using the World Health Organization criteria, treatment completion and cure rate was 1.2 % and 57.5 %, respectively. Treatment failure occurred in 7(2.1 %) cases. Ninety (27.5 %) patients defaulted treatment, 11 (3.4 %) died and 26 (8 %) transferred out. Over all, successful and unsuccessful treatment outcome was 58.7 % and 41.3 %, respectively. Libyan nationality was the only predictor of successful treatment outcome while Libyan nationality and diabetes mellitus had negative association with treatment default. Improving clinical and laboratory infrastructure in peripheral areas, educating defaulters about benefits of completing therapy and stratifying foreigners as high risk groups could improve success rate. Measures should be taken to improve professional commitment and expertise of health care professionals. Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aires