Under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP), a 35-year-old patient with drug-sensitive pulmonary TB is declared 'cured' after completing treatment. According to the current NTEP case definition, which criterion correctly defines 'cured'?
- A Patient who has completed treatment with negative sputum smear on at least two occasions, one of which is at the end of treatment ✓
- B Patient who has completed treatment with at least one negative sputum smear at any time during treatment
- C Patient who has completed treatment with negative sputum smear at the end of the intensive phase and at the end of treatment
- D Patient who has completed treatment and remains smear-negative at the end of the continuation phase
Correct answer: A. Patient who has completed treatment with negative sputum smear on at least two occasions, one of which is at the end of treatment
Explanation
Under NTEP, 'cured' is defined as a TB patient who has completed treatment with negative sputum smear on at least two occasions, one of which is at the end of treatment. Option B is insufficient as a single smear does not confirm cure. Option C describes a stricter criterion not used in the standard definition. Option D refers to the continuation phase, not the end of treatment.
Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.