Indicators to Ensure Treatment Initiation of All Diagnosed Sputum Positive Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients under Tuberculosis Control Programme in India

Background Pretreatment loss to follow-up (PTLFU) is used as performance indicator of Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) of India. Objective To document the PTLFU, identify additional indicators and examine documentation of all the diagnosed sputum positive pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients under RNTCP. Methodology Tuberculosis (TB) laboratory, referral for treatment registers, and referral forms were perused for information on sputum positive PTB patients diagnosed from January to June 2014, in 3 TB Units in Chennai. Results PTLFU was 24% (572 out of 2361). However, in pursuance with the principle of ensuring that all diagnosed patients must be started on treatment following referral, it was inflated to 44% (1046 out of 2361). Conclusion The existing PTLFU indicator does not reflect the proportion of treatment initiation of all diagnosed smear-positive PTB patients. We propose additional indicators for monitoring referral and treatment initiation of all diagnosed sputum positive PTB patients.