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Home / The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Volume 15, Number 6

Decline in tuberculosis with 19 years of universal directly observed therapy in a comprehensive statewide program [Notes from the field]

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The Mississippi State Department of Health tuberculosis program serves a rural southeastern US state of 2.9 million people in an area of 121 489 km2 (46 907 square miles). Statewide, directly observed therapy (DOT) began in 1986. To evaluate the program's effectiveness, trends in Centers for Disease Prevention and Control program indicators for 1981–2005 were compared and found to be significant (P < 0.0001). Inclusion of rifampin and pyrazinamide in the regimens was reviewed. An annual decline in cases and case rates began in 1990, falling by 65% by 2005. Successful DOT is feasible over a large geographic area.

Keywords: DOT; TB treatment; rural TB program

Document Type: Short Communication

Affiliations: 1: Division of Infectious Disease, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA; Tuberculosis Division, Mississippi State Department of Health, Jackson, Mississippi, USA; and Division of Infectious Disease and Internal Medicine, G V ‘Sonny’ Montgomery Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA 2: Center for Biostatistics, Department of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA 3: Tuberculosis Division, Mississippi State Department of Health, Jackson, Mississippi, USA 4: Division of Infectious Disease, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA; and District VII, Mississippi State Department of Health, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, USA 5: Division of Infectious Disease, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA; and Division of Infectious Disease, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut, USA

Publication date: 01 June 2011

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  • The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (IJTLD) is for clinical research and epidemiological studies on lung health, including articles on TB, TB-HIV and respiratory diseases such as COVID-19, asthma, COPD, child lung health and the hazards of tobacco and air pollution. Individuals and institutes can subscribe to the IJTLD online or in print – simply email us at [email protected] for details.

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