Tuberculosis, HIV Disease, and Directly Observed Therapy

Abstract

Directly observed therapy (DOT) to enable completion of antituberculous therapy works. DOT is largely responsible for the recent improvement in tuberculosis case rates in New York City. Despite this favorable trend, the factors of significant HIV disease rates and of multidrug resistant forms of tuberculosis bacteria in the population are of grave concern. Therefore, in addition to DOT other means of preventing tuberculosis spread should be encouraged. These include directly observed preventive therapy (DOPT) programs, use of masks, improved ventilation in crowded settings such as homeless shelters, and ultraviolet light germicidal irradiation of upper room air in such locations.

Responding to pandemics and other disease outbreaks in homeless populations: A review of the literature and content analysis

“…(2020) note the necessity during COVID‐19 for shelter restructuring to allow physical distancing, testing and isolation—items further discussed in Theme 5. Prevention of spread may also be benefitted through directly observed treatment, the use of masks, hygienic bedding (Badiaga et al., 2008; Moffa et al., 2019), improved ventilation in crowded spaces and engineering control strategies for airborne infectious diseases (Babatsikou & Zavitsanou, 2009; Barbieri, 2020; Brickner & McAdam, 1995; Doshani et al., 2019; Nardell, 1989).…”

“…Therefore, COVID‐19 planning should include provisions for the unique characteristics of shelters and its users. Some methods identified within this review include the installation of adequate ventilation and ultraviolet light (Moffa et al., 2019), providing clean cloths, hygienic bedding (Badiaga et al., 2009) and masks (Brickner & McAdam, 1995). Public health planning and pandemic response need to consider the barriers to implantation amongst shelters and the homeless population.…”