Reported Tuberculosis in the United States, 2021

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Table 22. Sputum Culture Conversion: United States, 2010–20191

See Surveillance Slide #58.

Sputum culture conversion.
Year Total cases2 Sputum culture conversion documented3 Sputum culture conversion not documented4 Sputum culture conversion unknown Reason sputum culture conversion not documented
Cannot produce sputum Sputum not collected Died Refused Lost to follow-up Other  Unknown/
missing
No. (%) No. (%) No. (%) No. (%) No. (%) No. (%) No. (%) No. (%) No. (%) No. (%)
2019 5,047 4,394 (87.1) 612 (12.1) 41 (0.8) 61 (10.0) 129 (21.1) 250 (40.8) 8 (1.3) 25 (4.1) 93 (15.2) 46 (7.5)
2018 5,089 4,467 (87.8) 585 (11.5) 37 (0.7) 61 (10.4) 134 (22.9) 226 (38.6) 7 (1.2) 25 (4.3) 97 (16.6) 35 (6.0)
2017 5,107 4,430 (86.7) 632 (12.4) 45 (0.9) 42 (6.6) 112 (17.7) 229 (36.2) 6 (0.9) 27 (4.3) 104 (16.5) 112 (17.7)
2016 5,124 4,336 (84.6) 708 (13.8) 80 (1.6) 40 (5.6) 114 (16.1) 250 (35.3) 3 (0.4) 22 (3.1) 91 (12.9) 188 (26.6)
2015 5,281 4,680 (88.6) 521 (9.9) 80 (1.5) 47 (9.0) 121 (23.2) 207 (39.7) 6 (1.2) 19 (3.6) 83 (15.9) 38 (7.3)
2014 5,166 4,615 (89.3) 512 (9.9) 39 (0.8) 28 (5.5) 121 (23.6) 217 (42.4) 10 (2.0) 18 (3.5) 98 (19.1) 20 (3.9)
2013 5,232 4,612 (88.1) 574 (11.0) 46 (0.9) 45 (7.8) 117 (20.4) 226 (39.4) 12 (2.1) 22 (3.8) 133 (23.2) 19 (3.3)
2012 5,284 4,605 (87.1) 603 (11.4) 76 (1.4) 55 (9.1) 164 (27.2) 206 (34.2) 4 (0.7) 24 (4.0) 120 (19.9) 30 (5.0)
2011 5,645 4,906 (86.9) 705 (12.5) 34 (0.6) 60 (8.5) 158 (22.4) 254 (36.0) 5 (0.7) 39 (5.5) 161 (22.8) 28 (4.0)
2010 5,764 4,957 (86.0) 720 (12.5) 87 (1.5) 69 (9.6) 174 (24.2) 243 (33.8) 12 (1.7) 40 (5.6) 141 (19.6) 41 (5.7)

1Most recent year for which data are complete.
2Persons alive at diagnosis who had a positive sputum culture.
3Persons who had a positive sputum culture conversion documented.
4Persons who did not have a documented culture conversion (excludes persons with an unknown culture conversion result).