Respiratory Isolation of Tuberculosis Patients Using Clinical Guidelines and an Automated Clinical Decision Support System

Abstract

A clinical policy to isolate TB patients and suspected human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients with cough, fever, or radiographic abnormalities improved isolation of culture-documented TB patients from 1992 to 1993. Automated computer protocols were successful in identifying additional potentially infectious patients that clinicians failed to place on respiratory isolation. Clinical and automated protocols combined resulted in better isolation rates than a clinical protocol alone.