A patient from Nigeria with smear-positive pulmonary TB is commenced on standard RIPE. After 2 months, his repeat sputum is still smear-positive. At w...

Question

A patient from Nigeria with smear-positive pulmonary TB is commenced on standard RIPE. After 2 months, his repeat sputum is still smear-positive. At what point does WHO define bacteriological treatment failure?

Accepted Answer

Smear or culture positive at 5 months or later during treatment

Answer

Smear-positive at 1 month

Answer

Any positive sputum at any time during treatment

Answer

Only culture-confirmed resistance defines failure

Answer

Failure is defined by clinical symptoms alone

uk-dtmh MCQ (SBA): TB Treatment Failure Definition

A patient from Nigeria with smear-positive pulmonary TB is commenced on standard RIPE. After 2 months, his repeat sputum is still smear-positive. At what point does WHO define bacteriological treatment failure?