Domiciliary Treatment of Tuberculosis

In the present therapy of tuberculosis with antimicrobial agents, most patients receive the major part of their treatment at home, and a significant proportion of active cases never enter sanatorium or stop working during their treatment.Domiciliary treatment in Canada, with and without sanatorium admission, has been reviewed. At present, approximately 7500 patients are being treated on an outpatient basis. Most have had a period of sanatorium treatment for investigation and institution of antimicrobial therapy, but in one province up to 30% of new active cases of tuberculosis, and in another 12%, are treated entirely on an outpatient basis.The indications are that domiciliary treatment is successful and that the practice is expanding. This practice will probably continue to expand as more and better outpatient clinic facilities are developed to provide the necessary supervision and follow-up of tuberculous patients.