[DOTS in Osaka City].
The tuberculosis (TB) incidence rate and the smear positive TB incident rate in Osaka City were 107.7 and 34.7 per 100,000 respectively in 1999, which were approximately 3 times higher than the national average. The TB mortality rate in Osaka City was 6.9 per 100,000 in 1999, which was highest in Japan. The TB incidence in the "AIRIN" area, where about 20% TB patients are homeless, shows highest rate of above 1,000/100,000. The treatment defaulter rate in Osaka City is about 10% against the average rate of 4% in Japan. A new strategic plan to intensify TB control is now being prepared by Osaka City government. A goal has been set up to make the TB incidence half in ten years. The plans consists of 4 points of "DOTS", "early detection of patient", "education and campaign", and "cohort analysis of treatment outcome". "DOTS" is being expanded in Osaka City. DOT is applied not only to the special group of homeless patients but also to the patients in the hospitals and in the community. Further systematic development of "DOTS" is necessary to achieve the goal.
Tatsumi
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Infectious Diseases Prevention Division, Osaka City, Public Health and Welfare Bureau, Osaka, Japan.
D003140:Communicable Disease Control; D023801:Directly Observed Therapy; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control