SPUTUM GRADING AND CONVERSION RATES AND TREATMENT OUTCOMES AMONG TUBERCULOSIS CASES MANAGED IN A TEACHING HOSPITAL IN SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA: A FIVE YEAR REVIEW

BACKGROUND: Sputum grading and conversion rates are some of the indicators being used to monitor client s progress and response in community TB care.This study assessed sputum grading and conversion rates in relation toTB treatment outcomes among cases managed in LAUTECH teaching hospital in southwestern Nigeria. METHODS: Retrospective study involving a review of 176TB cases managed between 2011 and 2015.A validated checklist was used in collating data from the National TB Control Programme tools. Data was analyzed using the SPSS software version 17.0. RESULTS: The mean age of respondents 39.4+2.3 years, 94.9% had pulmonary TB, while 114 (64.8%) tested smear positive. Majority 144 (79.5%) of the total cases seen were cured while 0.6% had treatment failure. Baseline TB grading showed 33.3% (1+), 32.5% (2+), 28.9% (3+) and 5.3% (scanty).About 107(93.9%) and 114(100.0%) had sputum conversion after two and five months respectively. Respondents who were cured were about 3 times more likely to have had a sputum conversion compared to those who were not , (OR 3.8, 95%CI 0.9852-14.4865 and p 0.0336). CONCLUSION: The conversion rate of sputum is associated with initial sputum grading, suggesting the need to maximize the efficiency of TB control programmes.