[The prevalence survey on chronic tuberculosis patients with bacilli discharge in Osaka prefecture]

This survey was made at the end of 1996 in Osaka prefecture including three ordinance designated cities of Osaka, Sakai and Higashiosaka. As of December 31 1996, 109 or 3.3% of active tuberculosis cases were found to be chronic tubercle bacilli excreters in Osaka city, and 128 or 3.6% in Osaka prefecture other than Osaka city, respectively. In the area called Airin at Nishinari-ward, Osaka, which has been an area with high prevalence of the disease, 33 or 5.8% were chronic tubercle bacilli excreters, and the rate was slightly higher than the other areas. Compared to the survey conducted 10 years ago, while the number of the chronic tubercle bacilli excreters decreased by half to 109 from 200 in Osaka city, to 128 from 211 in Osaka prefecture excluding Osaka city, the rate of chronic excreters to total active tuberculosis showed almost no change. Various factors such as difficult living conditions often attributed to defaulting of active tuberculosis patients from their treatment, thus resulting to development of chronic excretion. It is highly recommended to apply DOTS strategy for the completion of their treatment. Public health centers that have personal clinical records of each patient should be familiar with the results of their bacillus examinations. They should also be required to cooperate with medical institutions to cope with those who need retreatment.