Clinical Characteristics of Nursing- and Healthcare-Associated Tuberculosis

Toshitaka Suzuki; Tatsuo Kato; Ryoko Ohnishi; Shigeo Yasuda; Kimiyasu Sano; Yohei Shirakami; Masahito Shimizu; Nobuo Murakami

doi:10.3390/diseases6040101

Diseases (Nov 2018)

Clinical Characteristics of Nursing- and Healthcare-Associated Tuberculosis

Toshitaka Suzuki,
Tatsuo Kato,
Ryoko Ohnishi,
Shigeo Yasuda,
Kimiyasu Sano,
Yohei Shirakami,
Masahito Shimizu,
Nobuo Murakami

Affiliations

Toshitaka Suzuki: Department of Respiratory Medicine, National Hospital Organization Nagara Medical Center, 1300-7 Nagara, Gifu 502-8558, Japan
Tatsuo Kato: Department of Respiratory Medicine, National Hospital Organization Nagara Medical Center, 1300-7 Nagara, Gifu 502-8558, Japan
Ryoko Ohnishi: Department of Respiratory Medicine, National Hospital Organization Nagara Medical Center, 1300-7 Nagara, Gifu 502-8558, Japan
Shigeo Yasuda: Department of Respiratory Medicine, National Hospital Organization Nagara Medical Center, 1300-7 Nagara, Gifu 502-8558, Japan
Kimiyasu Sano: Department of Respiratory Medicine, National Hospital Organization Nagara Medical Center, 1300-7 Nagara, Gifu 502-8558, Japan
Yohei Shirakami: Department of Informative Clinical Medicine, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu 501-1194, Japan
Masahito Shimizu: Department of Gastroenterology/Internal Medicine, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu 501-1194, Japan
Nobuo Murakami: Biological Support Center, Gifu University Hospital, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu 501-1194, Japan

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/diseases6040101
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 6, no. 4
p. 101

Abstract

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Tuberculosis remains a serious health problem worldwide. Patients with tuberculosis who also require nursing care due to aging and underlying diseases are considered to have a high mortality rate; however, there are few studies describing detailed examinations of such disease conditions. Objective: The present study was conducted to investigate differences in clinical features of elderly tuberculosis patients according to the levels of nursing and healthcare required. Design: The study participants included 146 elderly (≥65 years) patients diagnosed with active tuberculosis among patients hospitalized with tuberculosis at a single center. The patients were classified into two groups: a nursing- and healthcare-associated tuberculosis group (n = 71) and a community-acquired tuberculosis group (n = 75). Results: The nursing- and healthcare-associated tuberculosis patients were older and had a higher frequency of comorbidities compared with the community-acquired tuberculosis group. Patients in the nursing- and healthcare-associated tuberculosis group had markedly lower levels of serum albumin and hemoglobin, and higher levels of C-reactive protein. The rate of in-hospital death was significantly higher in the nursing- and healthcare-associated tuberculosis group. This was attributed to malnutrition and comorbid conditions rather than the severity of tuberculosis. Conclusion: The prognosis was poor in elderly tuberculosis patients receiving nursing and healthcare.

Published in Diseases

ISSN: 2079-9721 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Medicine
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/diseases

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