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Discontinuation of Respiratory Isolation for Possible Tuberculosis: Do Two Negative Sputum Smear Results Suffice?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 June 2016

Charles S. Bryan ,
Deborah J. Rapp  and
Cynthia A. Brown
Charles S. Bryan*
Affiliation:
Palmetto Richland Memorial Hospitaland the, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, South Carolina
Deborah J. Rapp
Affiliation:
Palmetto Richland Memorial Hospitaland the, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, South Carolina
Cynthia A. Brown
Affiliation:
Palmetto Richland Memorial Hospitaland the, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, South Carolina
*
Two Medical Park, Suite 502, Columbia, SC 29203 (cbryan@gw.mp.sc.edu)
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Abstract

Analysis of acid-fast bacillus smear results at a hospital with a mod-erate incidence of tuberculosis confirms recent recommendations that 2 negative smear results suffice for discontinuation of respiratory isolation. Use of polymerase chain reaction analysis further increases the confidence with which the diagnosis of active tuberculosis likely to be transmitted to others can be excluded.

Type
Concise Communications
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 27 , Issue 5 , May 2006 , pp. 515 - 516
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2006

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