Introduction: Delayed sputum smear conversion is a significant problem faced by primary healthcare in Sabah resulting in poor treatment outcomes. This study aims to determine prevalence of delayed sputum smear conversion among pulmonary tuberculosis smear-positive patients at primary care clinics in Kota Kinabalu and their treatment outcomes from extended intensive phase treatment in terms of composite adverse treatment outcome and time to sputum smear conversion. Methodology: This is a retrospective cohort study conducted using data from Malaysian TB registry and medical records from five primary care clinics in Kota Kinabalu from January 2014 until December 2018. Results: 163 patients with delayed sputum smear conversion were selected into cohort groups with 90 patients received extended intensive phase treatment (3EHRZ) and 73 patients received non-extended intensive phase treatment (2EHRZ). Prevalence of delayed sputum smear conversion among new pulmonary tuberculosis smear positive patients was 6.45%. Out of overall 163 patients, 28.8% had composite adverse treatment outcomes (0.6% died, 25.2% treatment failure, 3.7% relapse and 4.9% acquired resistance). The mean time to sputum smear conversion was 145 days (SD 71.8). There were no significant differences in composite adverse treatment outcomes (OR = 1.49, CI: 0.74, 2.98, p = 0.266) and time to sputum smear conversion (mean difference = 17.91, CI: -5.83, 41.65, p = 0.318) between both cohort groups. Discussion/Conclusion: Extension of intensive phase treatment in patients with delayed sputum smear conversion not prevented adverse treatment outcomes including TB death, treatment failure, relapse and acquired resistance or reduced time to sputum smear conversion. Disclaimer: Abstract text might vary slightly from what is displayed in the e-poster.

This poster was submitted to the 14th National Conference for Clinical Research (NCCR) in August 18-20, 2021. https://nccrconference.com.my/