Under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP), a patient with confirmed drug-susceptible pulmonary TB is started on treatment. The treatment completion criterion for a 'treatment success' outcome includes which of the following?

• A Completing at least 6 months of treatment without documented evidence of failure
• B Completing treatment with negative sputum at 2nd month
• C Completing treatment regardless of bacteriological results
• D Sputum smear negative at 5th month or later, and completing treatment ✓

Explanation

Under NTEP (formerly RNTCP), 'treatment success' for drug-susceptible TB = 'Cured' + 'Treatment Completed'. 'Cured' requires: bacteriologically confirmed TB patient who was sputum smear-negative in the last month of treatment AND on at least one previous occasion. 'Treatment failure' is defined as a positive sputum smear or culture at month 5 or later. The 2nd-month sputum test is used to assess initial response and guide regimen (especially for identifying those needing extended therapy), not to declare success.

Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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