Table 1 Operational definitions of TB treatment outcomes

Cured

A pulmonary TB patient with bacteriologically confirmed TB at the beginning of treatment who was smear- or culture-negative in the last month of treatment and on at least one previous occasion.

Treatment completed

A TB patient who completed treatment without evidence of failure but with no record to show that sputum smear or culture results in the last month of treatment and on at least one previous occasion were negative, because tests were not done or because results are unavailable.

Treatment success

Sum of cured and treatment completed.

Treatment failed

TB patient whose sputum smear or culture is positive at month 5 or later during treatment.

Died

TB patient who dies for any reason before starting or during the course of treatment.

Loss To Follow Up

TB patient who did not start treatment or whose treatment was interrupted for 2 consecutive months or more.

Not Evaluated

TB patient for whom no treatment outcome is assigned. This includes cases “transferred out” to another treatment unit as well as cases for whom the treatment outcome is unknown to the reporting unit.