Tuberc Respir Dis.  1973 Dec;20(4):10-12. 10.4046/trd.1973.20.4.10.

Experience of Temporary Positive Conversion after Several Months of Negative Sputum for Tubercle Bacilli by Chemotherapy in Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients

• KMID: 2529036
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4046/trd.1973.20.4.10

Abstract

Among 512 pulmonary tuberculosis patients treated by anti-tuberculosis drugs and who have had more than six months of negative sputum for tubercle baci1li. 45 patients have experienced temporary sputum positive conversion after more than three months of consecutive negative sputum. Clinical. bacteriological. and roentgenological findings of these patients were compared with those of sixteen reactivated patients. Temporary positive conversion have continued for one to two months in 41 patients and three months. in remaining two patients. lt should be regarded as temporary positive conversion if the first positive converted sputum was smear positive but no growth occur on culture. There were two cases of Mitchison's transitional resistance in temporary. positive converted patients before first negative conversion. and three before second negative conversion. And nine cases of drug resistance have developed before first negative conversion and all by second positive conversion in reactivated patients. Roentgenologically. no or minimal temporary changes were observed in. temporarily positive converted patients and significant changes were shown in six of reactivated cases. 45 temporari1y converted cases and three reactivated cases showed no or negligible symptoms, and significant clinical symptoms and signs were met in three temporarily converted and thirteen reactivated cases.