Risks of hepatotoxicities during the intensive phase of tuberculosis treatment: A hospital-based case control study

Duration of treatment in pulmonary tuberculosis: are international guidelines on the management of tuberculosis missing something?

ObjectiveTo determine the case-fatality rate (CFR) at the end of the intensive phase of tuberculosis (TB) treatment, and factors associated with fatality.MethodsTB patients diagnosed between 2006 and 2013 were followed-up during treatment. We computed the CFR at the end of the intensive phase of TB treatment, and the incidence of death per 100 person-days (pd) of follow-up. We performed survival analysis using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression, and calculate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).ResultsA total of 5,182 patients were included, of whom 180 (3.5%) died; 87 of these deaths (48.3%) occurred during the intensive phase of treatment, with a CFR of 1.7%. The incidence of death was 0.028/100 pd. The following factors were associated with death during the intensive phase: being >50 years (HR = 36.9;CI:4.8–283.4); being retired (HR = 2.4;CI:1.1–5.1); having visited the emergency department (HR = 3.1;CI:1.2–7.7); HIV infection (HR = 3.4;CI:1.6–7.2); initial standard treatment with 3 drugs (HR = 2.0;CI:1.2–3.3) or non-standard treatments (HR = 2.68;CI:1.36–5.25); comprehension difficulties (HR = 2.8;CI:1.3–6.1); and smear-positive sputum (HR = 2.3-CI:1.0–4.8).ConclusionThere is a non-negligible CFR during the intensive phase of TB, whose reduction should be prioritised. The CFR could be a useful indicator for evaluating TB programs.

BackgroundWe investigated the determinants of sputum culture non-conversion following intensive phase of treatment, and assessed the effects on the outcome among patients treated for a first episode of smear positive tuberculosis (TB).MethodsThis was a prospective cohort study spanning October 2009 to May 2012, among patients treated for a first episode of smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis in the Chest service of the Yaounde Jamot Hospital, Cameroon. Logistic regressions models were used to relate baseline characteristics with non-conversion of sputum cultures after the intensive phase of treatment.ResultsA total of 953 patients were admitted to the service during the study period, including 97 (10.2%) who had a positive sputum smear at the end of the intensive phase of anti-tuberculosis treatment. Eighty-six patients with persistent of smear positive sputa at the end of intensive phase of TB treatment were included, among whom 46 (53%) had positive sputum culture for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (C+). The absence of haemoptysis [adjusted odd ratio 4.65 (95% confidence intervals: 1.14-18.95)] and current smoking [7.26 (1.59-33.23)] were the main determinants of sputum culture non-conversion. Of the 46C + patients, 7 (15%) were resistant to at least one anti-tuberculosis drug. Treatment failure rate was 28% among C + patients and 8% among C– patients (p = 0.023). The sensitivity and specificity were 78.6% and 55.4% for culture non-conversion after intensive treatment, in predicting anti-TB treatment failure.ConclusionsFailure rate is high among patients with positive sputum culture after intensive treatment, even in the absence of multi-drug resistant bacilli. Treatment should be closely monitored in these patients and susceptibility to anti-tuberculosis drugs tested in the presence of persistent positive smears following the intensive phase of treatment.

BackgroundUnderstanding contributors to mortality during the initial phase of tuberculosis (TB) treatment in patients co-infected with HIV would guide targeted interventions to improve survival. The aim of this study was to ascertain the incidence of death during the initial 2 months (new cases) and 3 months (retreatment cases) of TB treatment and to assess correlates of mortality in HIV co-infected patients.MethodsWe conducted a hospital-based retrospective cohort study from January 2006 to December 2013 at Yaoundé Central Hospital, Cameroon. We reviewed medical records to identify co-infected TB/HIV inpatients aged 15 years and older who died during TB treatment. Death was defined as any death occurring during TB treatment, as per World Health Organization recommendations. We collected socio-demographic, clinical and laboratory data. We conducted multivariable logistic binary regression analysis to identify factors associated with death during the intensive phase of TB treatment. Magnitudes of associations were expressed by adjusted odds ratio (aOR) with 95% confidence interval. A p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsThe 99 patients enrolled had a mean age of 39.5 (standard deviation 10.9) years and 53% were male. Patients were followed for 276.3 person-months of observation (PMO). Forty nine patients were died during intensive phase of TB treatment. Death incidence during the intensive phase of TB treatment was 32.2 per 100 PMO. Having a non-AIDS comorbidity (aOR 2.47, 95%CI 1.22-5.02, p = 0.012), having extra-pulmonary TB (aOR 1.89, 95%CI 1.05-3.43, p = 0.035), and one year increase in duration of known HIV infection (aOR 1.23, 95%CI 1.004-1.49) were independently associated with death during the intensive phase of TB treatment.ConclusionsMortality incidence during intensive phase of TB treatment was high among TB/HIV co-infected patients during TB treatment; and strongly associated with extra pulmonary TB suggesting advanced stage of immunosuppression and non-AIDS comorbidities. Early HIV diagnosis and care and good management of non-comorbidities can reduce this incidence.

Current methods of investigation in TB patients, namely sputum microscopy, culture, and molecular genetic methods, although well-studied, have a number of disadvantages, such as low sensitivity, long time required to obtain results, or high cost. Because of this, the search for alternative diagnostic tools and methods for predicting the course and effectiveness of treatment in patients with tuberculosis becomes relevant. In this study, ferritin, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and human-beta-defensin-1 (HBD-1) were selected for comparison of prognostic performance. Objective — to investigate the dynamics of ferritin, IL-6, and human-beta-defensin-1 levels against the background of the intensive phase of pulmonary tuberculosis therapy and to identify the most effective marker for predicting the effectiveness of treatment. Materials and methods. 100 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and 20 healthy individuals were included in the study. Examination of patients was carried out according to the current standards of providing medical care to tuberculosis patients. In addition, the patients' fasting blood ferritin, IL-6 and HBD-1 levels were determined at the beginning of treatment and after 60 days. Healthy individuals from the control group had a single determination of ferritin, IL-6 and HBD-1 blood levels on an empty stomach. Results and discussion. At the beginning of treatment, the ferritin level was significantly lower (95.95 ± ± 8.68) ng/ml in patients who later effectively completed the intensive phase of anti-tuberculosis treatment than in patients with ineffective intensive phase of treatment (152.27 ± 8.85) ng/ml. The same trend persisted after 60 days: in the effective intensive phase — (123.87 ± 13.39) ng/ml, in the ineffective one — (239.76 ± 12.91) ng/ml, p &lt; 0.05. In effective intensive phase of antituberculosis treatment, the level of IL-6 was significantly lower. Thus, at the beginning of treatment, it was (82.59 ± 6.89) pg/ml in patients with an effective intensive phase of treatment and (146.42 ± 8.04) pg/ml in patients with ineffective intensive treatment phase. After 60 days, it was (48.88 ± 4.19) pg/ml in patients with an effective intensive phase of treatment and (142.89 ± 9.11) pg/ml in patients with ineffective intensive treatment phase, p &lt; 0.05. The level of HBD-1 was higher when the intensive phase of antituberculosis therapy was ineffective, as when measured at the beginning of treatment (effective intensive phase — (18.71 ± 3.31) pg/ml, ineffective intensive phase — (32.79 ± 8.31) pg/ml), as well as when measured after 60 days (effective intensive phase — (19.93 ± 3.58) pg/ml, ineffective intensive phase — (42.92 ± 12.99) pg/ml, p &lt; 0.05). Conclusions. Levels of ferritin, IL-6 and HBD-1 are significantly increased in tuberculosis patients compared to healthy individuals, which allows them to be considered as markers of tuberculosis inflammation. Higher concentrations of these markers, both at the beginning of treatment and after 60 doses, are predictors of failure of antituberculosis therapy. The strongest relationship between the studied markers and parameters of the severity of the tuberculosis process is observed in the study of HBD-1, which allows us to consider it as the most effective marker of the severity of the course among presented ones.

BackgroundTuberculosis (TB) treatment may present significant hematological disorder and some anti-TB drugs also have serious side effects. Although many other diseases may be reflected by the blood and its constituents, the abnormalities of red cells, white cells, platelets, and clotting factors are considered to be primary hematologic disorder as a result of tuberculosis treatment. The aim of this study was to determine hematological profiles of TB patients before and after intensive phase treatment.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to determine hematological profiles of TB patients before and after intensive phase treatment.MethodsSmear positive new TB patients were recruited successively and socio-demographic characteristics were collected using pre-tested questionnaire. About 5 ml of venous blood was collected from each patient and the hematological profiles were determined using Mindry BC 3000 plus automated hematology analyzer.ResultThe hematological profiles of TB patients showed statistically significant difference in hematocrit (38.5 % versus 35.7 %), hemoglobin (12.7 g/lversus11.8 g/l) and platelet (268 × 103/μlversus239 × 103/μl) values of patients before initiation of treatment and after completion of the intensive phase of tuberculosis treatment, respectively (P < 0.05). The red cell distribution width (RDW) of treatment naïve TB patients was by far lower (17.6 ± 7.09 %) than the corresponding RDW (31.9 ± 5.19 %) of intensive phase treatment completed patients. Among TB patients that had high platelet distribution width (PDW) (n = 11) before initiation of TB treatment, 10 demonstrated lower PDW values after completion of the intensive phase. There was no significant difference on total white blood cell count among TB patients before and after completion of the 2 month treatment.ConclusionThe levels of hemoglobin, hematocrit and platelet count of the TB patients were significantly lowered after completion of the intensive phase of TB treatment. Significant variation of the RDW and PDW were also observed among treatment naïve and treatment completed patients. Hematological abnormalities resulted from TB treatment should be assessed continuously throughout the course of tuberculosis therapy.

Altered pharmacokinetics of antituberculosis drugs may contribute to an increased risk of tuberculosis treatment failure for diabetic patients. We previously found that rifampin exposure was 2-fold lower in diabetic than in nondiabetic tuberculosis patients during the continuation phase of treatment. We now examined the influence of diabetes on the pharmacokinetics of antituberculosis drugs in the intensive phase of tuberculosis treatment, and we evaluated the effect of glycemic control. For this purpose, 18 diabetic and 18 gender- and body weight-matched nondiabetic tuberculosis patients were included in an Indonesian setting. Intensive pharmacokinetic sampling was performed for rifampin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol at steady state. The bioavailability of rifampin was determined by comparing rifampin exposure after oral versus intravenous administration. Pharmacokinetic assessments were repeated for 10 diabetic tuberculosis patients after glycemic control. No differences in the areas under the concentration-time curves of the drugs in plasma from 0 to 24 h postdose (AUC(0-24)), the maximum concentrations of the drugs in plasma (C(max)), the times to C(max) (T(max)), and the half-lives of rifampin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol were found between diabetic and nondiabetic tuberculosis patients in the intensive phase of tuberculosis treatment. For rifampin, oral bioavailability and metabolism were similar in diabetic and nondiabetic patients. The pharmacokinetic parameters of antituberculosis drugs were not correlated with blood glucose levels or glucose control. We conclude that diabetes does not alter the pharmacokinetics of antituberculosis drugs during the intensive phase of tuberculosis treatment. The reduced exposure to rifampin of diabetic patients in the continuation phase may be due to increased body weight and possible differences in hepatic induction. Further research is needed to determine the cause of increased tuberculosis treatment failure among diabetic patients.

ABSTRACT&#x0D; Background : Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. According to World Health Organization Report (WHO), TB was ranked as the tenth highest cause of death in the world at 2016. During therapy, patients with active TB for category I were given Isoniazid, Rifampicin, Pyrazinamide and Ethambutol for 2 months which is the intensive phase and 4 months for continuation phase. Various studies have showed intensive administration of Anti Tuberculosis Drugs (ATD) have a relationship with hemoglobin levels either increasing or decreasing hemoglobin levels in tuberculosis patients.&#x0D; Objective : To find out the effect of ATD on hemoglobin levels in tuberculosis patients during the intensive phase of TB treatment in Kupang City&#x0D; Methods : This study was an interventional study using the Quasy-Experimental One Group Pretest and Post Test research design to determine effect of ATD on hemoglobin levels in tuberculosis patients during the intensive phase of TB treatment conducted in 11 Primary Health Care in Kupang City by taking capillary blood to measured hemoglobin level. The sampling technique used consecutive sampling and the sample size is 48 people of lung tuberculosis patients. The study was analyzed univariately and bivariately using paired-t test.&#x0D; &#x0D; Results : The results of data analysis of changes in hemoglobin levels before and after administration intensive phase of ATD showed significance value of p = 0.003 (p &lt;0.05) with mean of ΔHb 0.88 gr/dl.&#x0D; &#x0D; Conclusion : There is an effect of administration intensive phase of anti-tuberculosis therapy to hemoglobin levels in tuberculosis patients in Kupang City

Smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis (SPPTB) is the major contributor to the spread of tuberculosis (TB) infection, and it creates high morbidity and mortality worldwide. The objective of this study was to determine the predictors of delayed sputum smear conversion at the end of the intensive phase of TB treatment in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.This retrospective study was conducted utilising data of SPPTB patients treated in 5 TB treatment centres located in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia from 2013 to 2018. Pulmonary TB (PTB) patients included in the study were those who had at least completed the intensive phase of anti-TB treatment with sputum smear results at the end of the 2nd month of treatment. The factors associated with delayed sputum smear conversion were analyzed using multiple logistic regression analysis. Predictors of sputum smear conversion at the end of intensive phase were evaluated.A total of 2641 patients from the 2013 to 2018 periods were included in this study. One hundred eighty nine (7.2%) patients were identified as having delayed sputum smear conversion at the end of the intensive phase treatment. Factors of moderate (advanced odd ratio [aOR]: 1.7) and advanced (aOR: 2.7) chest X-ray findings at diagnosis, age range of >60 (aOR: 2.1), year of enrolment 2016 (aOR: 2.8), 2017 (aOR: 3.9), and 2018 (aOR: 2.8), smokers (aOR: 1.5), no directly observed treatment short-course (DOTS) supervisor (aOR: 6.9), non-Malaysian citizens (aOR: 1.5), and suburban home locations (aOR: 1.6) were associated with delayed sputum smear conversion at the end of the intensive phase of the treatment.To improve sputum smear conversion success rate, the early detection of PTB cases has to be fine-tuned so as to reduce late or severe case presentation during diagnosis. Efforts must also be in place to encourage PTB patients to quit smoking. The percentage of patients assigned with DOTS supervisors should be increased while at the same time ensuring that vulnerable groups such as those residing in suburban localities, the elderly and migrant TB patients are provided with proper follow-up treatment and management.

Initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) during tuberculosis (TB) treatment improves survival in TB-HIV coinfected patients. In patients with CD4 counts <50 cells per cubic millimeter, there is a substantial clinical and survival benefit of early ART initiation. The purpose of this study was to assess the costs and cost-effectiveness of starting ART at various time points during TB treatment in patients with CD4 counts ≥50 cells per cubic millimeter. In the SAPiT trial, 642 HIV-TB coinfected patients were randomized to 3 arms: receiving ART within 4 weeks of starting TB treatment (early treatment arm; Arm-1), after the intensive phase of TB treatment (late treatment arm; Arm-2), or after completing TB treatment (sequential arm; Arm-3). Direct health care costs were measured from a provider perspective using a micro-costing approach. The incremental cost per death averted was calculated using the trial outcomes. For patients with CD4 count ≥50 cells per cubic millimeter, median monthly variable costs per patient were US $116, US $113, and US $102 in Arm-1, Arm-2 and Arm-3, respectively. There were 12 deaths in 177 patients in Arm-1, 8 deaths in 180 patients in the Arm-2, and 19 deaths in 172 patients in Arm-3. Although the costs were lower in Arm-3, it had a substantially higher mortality rate. The incremental cost per death averted associated with moving from Arm-3 to Arm-2 was US $4199. There was no difference in mortality between Arm-1 and Arm-2, but Arm-1 was slightly more expensive. Initiation of ART after the completion of the intensive phase of TB treatment is cost-effective for patients with CD4 counts ≥50 cells per cubic millimeter.

Background. The global problem of tuberculosis is still relevant today. One of the main criteria for positive dynamics in the treatment of tuberculosis is the closure of decay cavities. Studies aimed at identifying prognostic factors for the success of cavity closure and developing methods for predicting the effectiveness of treatment are relevant. Purpose – to identify clinical and laboratory predictors and to develop a method for predicting treatment efficacy in patients with newly diagnosed infiltrative pulmonary tuberculosis (NDIPTB). Materials and Methods. We included 80 patients with newly diagnosed infiltrative drug-sensitive TB. Preservation of destructive changes on control radiography at the end of intensive phase (IP) of treatment was a criterion for assessing treatment dynamics, according to which patients in the main cohort were divided into two groups. The Destr– group (n = 37) included patients who had destructive changes in the lung at the start of treatment and had no evidence of destruction on control radiography after two months of therapy. The Destr+ group (n = 43) included patients who had destructive changes in lung tissue after intensive phase of treatment. Results. In the groups of patients based on residual destructive changes in the lung after IP of treatment, it was found that patients in the Destr+ group had significantly more cases of mycobacterial shedding and the presence of intoxication syndrome (p &lt; 0.05). In addition, patients with residual destructive changes were characterised by significantly higher levels of systemic inflammation and depletion and dysfunction of the phagocytic component of the immune defence compared to the Destr– group (p &lt; 0.05). After assessing independent factors for predicting residual destructive phenomena on control radiographs after IP of treatment, it was determined that such predictors are initial levels of haptoglobin, γ-interferon, number of destruction sites (n Destr) and ACC (sp). A prognostic model was created that has the necessary parameters of significance and can be used to assess the likelihood of residual destructive changes according to control radiography after IP of treatment in men with NDIPTB. Conclusions. Predictors of the efficacy of treatment of men with NDIPTB in the conditions of standard therapy are the number of destruction sites before treatment, baseline values of haptoglobin, γ-interferon and spontaneous average cytochemical coefficient (ACC(sp)) (p &lt; 0.05). The proposed prediction model has the necessary parameters of significance and can be used to assess the likelihood of an unfavourable outcome of IP of treatment in men with newly diagnosed infiltrative pulmonary tuberculosis in terms of the presence of residual destructive changes in the lung.

BackgroundIn limited resource settings, sputum smear conversion at the end of the intensive phase of tuberculosis treatment is an indicator not only of patients’ response to treatment, but also of anti-tuberculosis program performance. The objective of this study was to identify factors associated to sputum smear non-conversion at the end of the intensive phase of treatment, and the effect of smear non-conversion on the outcome of smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients.MethodThis retrospective cohort study was carried out on data of patients treated in the Diagnostic and Treatment Centre of Baleng, West-Cameroon from 2006 to 2012. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association of socio-demographic and clinical factors with delay in sputum smear conversion, and the association of this delay with treatment outcomes.ResultOut of 1425 smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients treated during the study period, 1286 (90.2%) were included in the analysis. Ninety four (7.3% CI: 6.0- 8.9) patients were identified as non-converted at the end of the intensive phase of treatment. Pre-treatment smears graded 2+ and 3+ were independently associated to delay in smear conversion (p < 0.01). Years of treatment ranging from 2009 to 2012 were also associated to delay in smear conversion (p < 0.02). Delay in smear conversion was significantly associated to failure [Adjusted Odd Ratio (AOR):12.4 (Confidence Interval: CI 4.0- 39.0)] and death, AOR: 3.6 (CI 1.5- 9.0).ConclusionHeavy initial bacillary load and treatment years ranging from 2009 to2012 were associated to sputum smear non-conversion at the end of the intensive phase of TB treatment. Also, delay in smear conversion was associated to unfavorable treatment outcomes. Patients with heavy initial bacillary load should thus be closely monitored and studies done to identify reasons for the high proportion of non-conversion among patients treated between 2009 and 2012.

BackgroundZimbabwe is among the 22 Tuberculosis (TB) high burden countries worldwide and runs a well-established, standardized recording and reporting system on case finding and treatment outcomes. During TB treatment, patients transfer-out and transfer-in to different health facilities, but there are few data from any national TB programmes about whether this process happens and if so to what extent. The aim of this study therefore was to describe the characteristics and outcomes of TB patients that transferred into Harare City health department clinics under the national TB programme. Specific objectives were to determine i) the proportion of a cohort of TB patients registered as transfer-in, ii) the characteristics and treatment outcomes of these transfer-in patients and iii) whether their treatment outcomes had been communicated back to their respective referral districts after completion of TB treatment.MethodsData were abstracted from patient files and district TB registers for all transfer-in TB patients registered from January to December 2010 within Harare City. Descriptive statistics were calculated.ResultsOf the 7,742 registered TB patients in 2010, 263 (3.5%) had transferred-in: 148 (56%) were males and overall median age was 33 years (IQR, 26–40). Most transfer-in patients (74%) came during the intensive phase of TB treatment, and 58% were from rural health-facilities. Of 176 patients with complete data on the time period between transfer-in and transfer-out, only 85 (48%) arrived for registration in Harare from referral districts within 1 week of being transferred-out. Transfer-in patients had 69% treatment success, but in 21% treatment outcome status was not evaluated. Overall, 3/212 (1.4%) transfer-in TB patients had their TB treatment outcomes reported back to their referral districts.ConclusionThere is need to devise better strategies of following up TB patients to their referral Directly Observed Treatment (DOT) centres from TB diagnosing centres to ensure that they arrive promptly and on time. Recording and reporting of information must improve and this can be done through training and supervision. Use of mobile phones and other technology to communicate TB treatment outcomes back to the referral districts would seem the obvious way to move forward on these issues.

Tuberculosis (TB) is an increasing global problem, despite effective drug therapies. Access to TB therapy during conflict situations has not been studied. To determine the effect of irregular TB treatment due to an armed conflict in Guinea-Bissau, West Africa. Ongoing retrospective cohort study conducted in the capital city of Bissau among 101 patients with TB who received irregular or no treatment during the civil war (war cohort; June 7-December 6, 1998) and 108 patients with TB who received treatment 12 months earlier (peace cohort; June 7-December 6, 1997) and comparison of an additional 42 patients who had completed treatment before June 6, 1998, and 69 patients who had completed treatment before June 6, 1997. Mortality rates, compared by irregular (war cohort) vs regular (peace cohort) access to treatment, by intensive vs continuation phase of treatment, and by those who had previously completed treatment for TB. Irregular treatment was associated with an increased mortality rate among patients with TB. The mortality rate ratio (MR) was 3.12 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.20-8.12) in the war cohort, adjusting for age, sex, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, residence, and length of treatment. Each additional week of treatment before the war started increased probability of survival by 5% (95% CI, 0%-10%). In the intensive phase of treatment, the adjusted MR was 3.30 (95% CI, 1.04-10.50) and in the continuation phase it was 2.26 (95% CI, 0.33-15.34). Increased mortality among the war cohort was most marked in HIV-positive patients, who had an adjusted MR of 8.19 (95% CI, 1.62-41.25). Mortality was not increased in HIV-positive or HIV-negative patients who had completed TB treatment when the war started. Interruption of treatment had a profound impact on mortality among patients with TB during the war in Guinea-Bissau. Regular treatment for TB was associated with significantly improved survival for HIV-infected individuals. In emergencies, it is crucial to ensure availability of TB drugs.

BackgroundSuccessful treatment of tuberculosis (TB) involves taking anti-tuberculosis drugs for at least six months. Poor adherence to treatment means patients remain infectious for longer, are more likely to relapse or succumb to tuberculosis and could result in treatment failure as well as foster emergence of drug resistant tuberculosis. Kenya is among countries with high tuberculosis burden globally. The purpose of this study was to determine the duration tuberculosis patients stay in treatment before defaulting and factors associated with default in Nairobi.MethodsA Case-Control study; Cases were those who defaulted from treatment and Controls those who completed treatment course between January 2006 and March 2008. All (945) defaulters and 1033 randomly selected controls from among 5659 patients who completed treatment course in 30 high volume sites were enrolled. Secondary data was collected using a facility questionnaire. From among the enrolled, 120 cases and 154 controls were randomly selected and interviewed to obtain primary data not routinely collected. Data was analyzed using SPSS and Epi Info statistical software. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis to determine association and Kaplan-Meier method to determine probability of staying in treatment over time were applied.ResultsOf 945 defaulters, 22.7% (215) and 20.4% (193) abandoned treatment within first and second months (intensive phase) of treatment respectively. Among 120 defaulters interviewed, 16.7% (20) attributed their default to ignorance, 12.5% (15) to traveling away from treatment site, 11.7% (14) to feeling better and 10.8% (13) to side-effects. On multivariate analysis, inadequate knowledge on tuberculosis (OR 8.67; 95% CI 1.47-51.3), herbal medication use (OR 5.7; 95% CI 1.37-23.7), low income (OR 5.57, CI 1.07-30.0), alcohol abuse (OR 4.97; 95% CI 1.56-15.9), previous default (OR 2.33; 95% CI 1.16-4.68), co-infection with Human immune-deficient Virus (HIV) (OR 1.56; 95% CI 1.25-1.94) and male gender (OR 1.43; 95% CI 1.15-1.78) were independently associated with default.ConclusionThe rate of defaulting was highest during initial two months, the intensive phase of treatment. Multiple factors were attributed by defaulting patients as cause for abandoning treatment whereas several were independently associated with default. Enhanced patient pre-treatment counseling and education about TB is recommended.