[The results of DOTS strategy].

Tuberculosis control in Japan is now on the stage of program transition since the declaration of emergency of tuberculosis in 1999. The "21st century DOTS, Japan version" has been proposed under the influence of DOTS experiences in the United States, where drastic reduction of tuberculosis was observed after the introduction of universal DOT. We cannot copy the experiences of US, considering the difference of epidemiological situation of tuberculosis, social background of TB cases and the difference of health infrastructure for TB patients.

[The present situation of daily life of tuberculosis patients treated in hospitals with beds for tuberculosis in Japan].

We sent a questionnaire to hospitals with beds for tuberculosis in Japan to know current situation of daily life of tuberculosis patients treated in hospitals. It was evident that some services of daily life facilities was delayed; e.g.

[Understanding level on tuberculosis among hospital nurses].

Tuberculosis control in big cities should be focused on preventing defaulting from treatment, and the prevention of the emergence of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis, and the improvement of treatment success rate. Since it is needed to organize continued case management system starting from hospitalization, discharge, management of regular drug taking at outpatient clinics and final cure, close collaboration should be made between hospital nurses and public health nurses. For this purpose, there should be no difference about the understanding on tuberculosis control between clinical and public health nurses.