Current smokers with pulmonary TB experience significantly worse treatment outcomes than smear positive non-smokers, researchers at the Taipei Medical University and Hospital have found.
The study included 245 cases with cultures positive for TB and 114 controls with non-TB-related pulmonary diseases and negative sputum cultures. Current smokers had the highest failure rate (33%) for TB treatment, took longer to be found smear negative, and had the most severe pulmonary lesions based on chest X-ray grading.
The authors concluded that longer periods of treatment may be required for TB patients who are current smokers.
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