• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.78 no.3
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• pp.168-174
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• 2015

Drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) is still a major threat worldwide. However, recent scientific advances in diagnostic and therapeutic tools have improved the management of drug-resistant TB. The development of rapid molecular testing methods allows for the early detection of drug resistance and prompt initiation of an appropriate treatment. In addition, there has been growing supportive evidence for shorter treatment regimens in multidrug-resistant TB; and for the first time in over 50 years, new anti-TB drugs have been developed. The World Health Organization has recently revised their guidelines, primarily based on evidence from a meta-analysis of individual patient data (n=9,153) derived from 32 observational studies, and outlined the recommended combination and correct use of available anti-TB drugs. This review summarizes the updated guidelines with a focus on the medical management of drug-resistant TB.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.81 no.3
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• pp.241-246
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• 2018

Background: The "Tuberculosis Relief Belt Supporting Project (Tuberculosis Patient Management Project for Poverty Groups)" is a national program for socioeconomically vulnerable tuberculosis (TB) patients. We sought to evaluate the clinical and socioeconomic characteristics of poverty-stricken TB patients, and determined the need for relief. Methods: We examined in-patients with TB, who were supported by this project at the National Medical Center from 2014 to 2015. We retrospectively investigated the patients' socioeconomic status, clinical characteristics, and project expenditures. Results: Fifty-eight patients were enrolled. Among 55 patients with known income status, 24 (43.6%) had no income. Most patients (80%) lived alone. A total of 48 patients (82.8%) had more than one underlying disease. More than half of the enrolled patients (30 patients, 51.7%) had smear-positive TB. Cavitary disease was found in 38 patients (65.5%). Among the 38 patients with known resistance status, 19 (50%) had drug-resistant TB. In terms of disease severity, 96.6% of the cases had moderate-to-severe disease. A total of 14 patients (26.4%) died during treatment. Nursing expenses were supported for 12 patients (20.7%), with patient transportation costs reimbursed for 35 patients (60%). In terms of treatment expenses for 31 people (53.4%), 93.5% of them were supported by uninsured benefits. Conclusion: Underlying disease, infectivity, drug resistance, severity, and death occurred frequently in socioeconomically vulnerable patients with TB. Many uninsured treatment costs were not supported by the current government TB programs, and the "Tuberculosis Relief Belt Supporting Project" compensated for these limitations.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.1021-1030
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• 2021

This study analyzed the status of tuberculosis patients in Korea by collecting data from the Statistics Korea and the KDCA's GLOBAL Tuberculosis Report from 2010 to 2018 to find ways to manage tuberculosis patients in Korea and provide basic data on tuberculosis policies. The results are as follows. First, the results of tuberculosis patients in Korea decreased by about 21.3% to 33,796 (65.9%) in 2018 and 26,433 (51.5%) in 2018. Second, the status of tuberculosis patient treatment in Korea was found to be 655 in 2018, an increase of about 160% compared to 2014. Third, the incidence of tuberculosis among adolescents was 1.8% in 2018 for those aged 10 to 14 and 15.0% for those aged 15 to 19, the highest rate of tuberculosis among high school students, Fourth, looking at the incidence of tuberculosis patients by age, subjects in their 60s or older showed a prevalence of tuberculosis by 60% or more, especially elderly tuberculosis patients over 80 years of age. Fifth, the status of the incidence of tuberculosis patients by gender was found to be 1.4 times higher in men than in women in 2018 compared to 2010. Sixth, 1,419 people (75.6%) in Jeollanam-do had the highest prevalence of tuberculosis nationwide, and 99 people (33.4%) in Sejong had the lowest prevalence. Seventh, the number of foreign patients in Korea continued to increase to 1,510 in 2012, increasing to 2,569 in 2016. The results this study indicate the need for rapid and accurate early tuberculosis screening policies and management for tuberculosis relapse patients, high school student, age groups over 60, a group of men such as the military, the elderly over 80, and foreigners.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.44-54
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• 2014

In spite of effective curative therapy, morbidity and mortality remain high for hospitalized patients with tuberculosis(TB) in Korea. The purpose of this study was to identify patient and hospital characteristics associated with hospital care outcome. Using annual patient survey data produced by Korea Institute for Health and Social Affair, we identified 8,562 hospital discharge with primary diagnosis of TB. Logistic regression analyses were performed on a model that included age, gender, residence area, insurance status, hospital admission source, length of stay, hospital ownership and class of hospital as the explanatory variables and outcome of treatments as the dependent variable. The results show that negative outcome was associated with the patients older than 65 years, medical aid beneficiary, admission through emergency department, and the patients admitted to public owned hospitals. On the other hand, the patients who were admitted to teaching hospitals were associated with positive outcome. To improve hospital treatment outcome of TB patients, more vigorous strategies should be implemented targeting the older and poor population in regard to social support as well as the clinical management and prevention.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.31 no.4 s.63
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• pp.814-827
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• 1998

In this study we analyzed the insurance claims data to investigate the medical care utilization pattern of tuberculosis patients in private sector. We selected the claims of principal or secondary diagnosis with tuberculosis from claims database of National federation of Medical Insurance, from December 1995 to November 1996. Both spell-based analysis and person-based analysis were carried out. In spell-based analysis, type and location of treatment facilities, distribution of diagnoses, number of outpatient/inpatient treatments were analyzed. Additionally in person-based analysis, number of tuberculosis patients, demographic characteristics, number of treatments per person, frequency and pattern of change in source of care were analyzed. The results were as follows 1. The number of treatments with tuberculosis was 863,641 from 1 December 1995 to 30 November 1996. The number of patients was 313.964. 2. Most of tuberculosis patients in private sector were treated in general hospital (45.8%) and clinics(42.2%) 3. About 77.7% of tuberculosis patients who were treated more than two times did not change the source of care. 18,9% of tuberculosis patients changed source of care only once. Even when we limited tuberculosis patient to those who were treated more than five times and whose treatment period were longer than six months, 94.7% of patients did not change source of care at all, or changed treatment facility only once. 4. The probability of change in source of rare was higher in pulmonary tuberculosis, in twenties, and in rural area respectively than other tuberculosis. In conclusion, healer shopping of tuberculosis patients was not serious as expected. However special attention is needed to pulmonary tuberculosis in twenties and rural area.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.269-274
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• 1984

Since tuberculosis was a common pulmonary disease in Korea, Aspergillosis was easily misdiagnosed as tuberculosis and an acute form of Aspergillosis was misinterpreted as pneumonia because of their similarities in the X-ray findings. This investigation is designed to illustrate the clinical features and preoperative diagnosis and surgical role in the management of this disease. In a retrospective review of operative cases from Jan. 1963 through Dec. 1983, 36 cases were analyzed. Peak age incidence lies in the 3rd decade [41.7%]. All cases had a history of treatment with antituberculous drugs under diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis and the most common chief complaint was hemoptysis [69.5%]. Only nine cases [25%] showed cavitary lesions with mycetoma and preoperative sputum study for fungus showed low positive valve [42.3%]. Anatomical location of lesion was located mainly upper lobe [66.7%] and most of cases were managed by lobectomy. We experienced 7 cases of complication; they were postoperative empyema, hepatic failure, esophageal varix bleeding. Postoperative pathologic findings showed that 29 cases [80.5%] were combined with tuberculosis 3 cases were combined with bronchiectasis and 4 cases were not combined with other disease. In conclusion, when the patient has a longstanding history of pulmonary tuberculosis and has a hemoptysis, he must be suspected fungus super infection. Resectional surgery is the treatment of choice for symptomatic localized disease and needed resection in asymptomatic patient to prevent possible fatal sequelae in the future.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.79 no.2
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• pp.98-100
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• 2016

We present a rare case of critically compromised airway secondary to a massively dilated sequestered colon conduit after several revision surgeries. A 71-year-old male patient had several operations after the diagnosis of gastric cancer. After initial treatment of pneumonia in the pulmonology department, he was transferred to the surgery department for feeding jejunostomy because of recurrent aspiration. However, he had respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation. The chest computed tomography (CT) scan showed pneumonic consolidation at both lower lungs and massive dilatation of the substernal interposed colon compressing the trachea. The dilated interposed colon was originated from the right colon, which was sequestered after the recent esophageal reconstruction with left colon interposition resulting blind pouch at both ends. It was treated with CT-guided pigtail catheter drainage via right supraclavicular route, which was left in place for 2 weeks, and then removed. The patient remained well clinically, and was discharged home.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.111-114
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• 2016

Herein, we report a 39-year-old female patient presenting with gastric cancer and tuberculous peritonitis. The differential diagnosis between advanced gastric cancer with peritoneal carcinomatosis and early gastric cancer with peritoneal tuberculosis (TB), and the treatment of these two diseases, were challenging in this case. Physicians should have a high index of suspicion for peritoneal TB if the patient has a history of this disease, especially in areas with a high incidence of TB, such as South Korea. An early diagnosis is critical for patient management and prognosis. A surgical approach including tissue biopsy or laparoscopic exploration is recommended to confirm the diagnosis.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.259-267
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• 2015

This study is aimed at understanding the factors affecting rehospitalization of a tuberculosis patient. In a public hospital with a tuberculosis ward in Seoul, the data of 360 patients who discharged the hospital from July 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012. Data was selected from 'nursing information survey' or 'discharge analysis DB' of the department of medical records. The possibility of rehospitalization was higher in the group with those who has no job, those with medical care assistant than with health insurance, drinks about 10 times a month, personally came to the hospital, main guardian is the patient's spouse, have discharged from hospital against the doctor's advise, and principle diagnosis is not a pulmonary tuberculosis but the other respiratory disease. Therefore, it is expected that the possibility of rehospitalization would be effectively reduced if an intensive intervention is taken on the first hospitalized patients who have the features described above.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.45-54
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• 2016

The purpose of this study is to identify patient and hospital characteristics with pulmonary tuberculosis and to analyze factors which were influencing length of stay and treatment. The Korean National Hospital Discharge In-depth Injury Survey database from 2006 to 2012 was used for analysis. Study subjects were 4,704 patients and analyzed by using frequency, chi-square and logistic regression through using STATA 12.0. To avoid selection bias, we used propensity score matching. Analysis results show that the length of stay and treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis was different between insurance types. Patients characteristic(female, comorbidity, admission by outpatient department, medical insurance type) and hospital characteristic(500-999 beds, over 1000 beds) significantly influence length of stay. Admission by outpatient department and over 1000 beds are significantly influence treatment. Based on these findings, it is necessary to clarify between length of stay and treatment outcome by medical aids beneficiaries and audit hospitals follow discharge guidelines in pulmonary tuberculosis patients.