title: [Discharge decisions for pulmonary tuberculosis patients].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To understand how decisions to discharge pulmonary tuberculosis patients were made at our hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  28 pulmonary tuberculosis patients admitted based on the criteria of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare between January 23 and July 22, 2009 who received standard chemotherapy according to the "Tuberculosis Treatment Standards." Discharge decisions were made using the criteria of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.
  
  
  METHODS
  The patients were divided into 2 groups: a culture group in which the criterion of "3 consecutive negative cultures" was used as the criterion for deciding discharge, and a smear group in which "3 consecutive negative smears" was used as the criterion for deciding discharge. Patients' attributes, clinical findings, and treatment course were compared retrospectively between the 2 groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant differences were seen between the groups in age, performance status, treatment method (4-drug, 3-drug), temporary discontinuation of chemotherapy, need for hospitalization or admission to a care facility for the purpose of convalescence after discharge, and number of days from admission until the criteria for discharge were met.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared to patients in the smear group, those in the culture group tended to be older and in poorer general condition, more frequently needed further hospitalization or admission to a facility for the purpose of convalescence after discharge and required a longer time from admission until the criteria for discharge were met.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Aichi Cardiovascular and Respiratory Center, Japan. hmorit@daidohp.or.jp
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Morita
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000592:standards*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*