Treatment of tuberculosis in a nurse-managed clinic

From July 1982 to January 1986, we saw 86 patients in the tuberculosis clinic; 77 (90%) were alcoholics; all were males, 71 (83%) were black, 14 (16%) were white, and one (1%) was hispanic. Of these, 10 patients (12%) failed to complete therapy and were referred to the Chicago Board of Health. Nine patients (10%) were dropped from the clinic: three moved from the state of Illinois, three died of nontuberculosis causes, and three were transferred to the Chest Clinic for other medical problems. Therefore, 67 patients (78%) successfully completed therapy. Our high rate of success is attributed to constant, high-intensity contact and consistent supervision of these potentially noncompliant patients.