Under NTEP, a 35-year-old patient with newly diagnosed drug-sensitive pulmonary TB is initiated on the standard daily FDC regimen. After completing the 2-month intensive phase, sputum smear microscopy remains positive. This patient is now classified as a case of:
- A Loss to follow-up
- B Cat I failure
- C Treatment failure ✓
- D Drug-resistant TB
Correct answer: C. Treatment failure
Explanation
Under NTEP, a patient who remains sputum smear-positive at the end of the intensive phase (month 2) of treatment for new DS-TB is classified as 'treatment failure'. This triggers a switch to the retreatment regimen and mandatory drug susceptibility testing. The key discriminating factor is the timing: positivity at 2 months triggers failure, not merely 'slow conversion'.
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.