Provincial assessment in the scope of the tuberculosis control program

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to expose the status of tuberculosis in Corum, to analyze the conducted studies about the tuberculosis control on provincial basis and contribute to future studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The records of the patients who were followed and treated between 2005 and 2010 at tuberculosis dispensary in Corum were respectively investigated. The statistical analyses of the data were completed as using SPSS 16.0. RESULTS: A total of 628 patients were enrolled in this study; 59.8% (n= 376) were male, 40.2% (n= 252) were female. The ratio of the pulmonary and the extrapulmonary involvement were detected as 63.7% (n= 400) and 36.3% (n= 228) respectively. The incidence of new cases was 93.5% (n= 587) whereas the percentage of previously treated cases was 6.5% (n= 41). The 0.7% (n= 4) percentage of the patients were multi-drug resistant therefore they had been treated with secondary group of drugs. 400 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis were investigated about the ratios of the following parameters; performed microscopic examination, the positivity of the microscopic examination, the performed culture examination, the positivity of the culture examination and the performed drug susceptibility test. According to this; the results were determined as 85.5% (n= 334), 44.5% (n= 178), 66% (n= 264), 35% (n= 140) and 15% (n= 60) respectively. Directly observed treatment was performed 49.7% (n= 312) of the patients by health care workers. The success of treatment for all patients with tuberculosis was determined as 93.8% (n= 576). CONCLUSION: According to the data of our study, we can conclude that, although there were some deficiencies about control of tuberculosis, the conducted control program was successful in Corum. However; having a large number of young patients with tuberculosis proved that the transmission was still going on. Besides; the examined tests like microscopy, culture and drug susceptibility were found low in rates. The practices of directly observed treatment should provide to be improved.