Analysis of 58 cases of tuberculosis experienced in the recent 8 years at Tsukuba University Hospital

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In the past 8 years, we have experienced 58 cases of tuberculosis at Tsukuba University Hospital. Retrospective analysis of these patients was made to clarify the circumstances of tuberculosis in hospitals where no special isolated ward for tuberculosis patients is prepared. The half were above 60 years old and a fourth were under 40 years old. Approximately two thirds of the patients had underlying diseases and malignancy was the most common. Most of the patients complained of cough, sputum, and/or fever. Thirty-one patients were diagnosed as pulmonary tuberculosis, 18 were extra-pulmonary, and 9 were complicated with both. Extra-pulmonary cases or patients who had underlying diseases showed unusual symptoms, and early diagnosis was difficult in several cases. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was detected in over 80% of the patients, and polymerase chain reaction procedure seemed to be useful for definite and rapid diagnosis of tuberculosis. There are no special isolated wards for tuberculosis patients in our hospital, but some patients could not be transferred because of their severe condition or complicated diseases. To prevent nosocomial infections of tuberculosis including occupational infection in the medical staff, early diagnosis, management of high risk staff, isolation rooms for patients who have potential risk of causative sauce of infection are needed.