Time to sputum culture conversion in multidrug-resistant tuberculosis: Predictors and relationship to treatment outcome

Most patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis had negative sputum cultures within 12 weeks after starting DOTS. Bilateral cavitary disease on chest radiography, high colony count in the sputum, and resistance to more drugs were associated with a slower rate of sputum conversion. Sputum culture conversion was associated with a better final outcome of treatment