Infectious Disease Epidemiology Program

Tuberculosis - Directly Observed Therpy

Maine Tuberculosis Program Policy
Re: Directly Observed Therapy (DOT)
 
The Maine TB Control Program and Division of Family Public Health Nursing Services adopted DOT as the standard of care for all persons diagnosed with active TB.

DOT is defined as "observation of the patient by a health care provider or other responsible person as the patient ingests TB medications".

The Centers for Disease Control and the American Thoracic Society recommend that DOT be considered for all patients as one method of ensuring adherence to a medication regime. Patients who receive DOT can be placed on a twice- or thrice-weekly treatment schedule, generally after two weeks of daily treatment.
DOT includes the use of incentives and enablers to encourage adherence. Household members should not hold responsibility for DOT.

References:
ATS, Treatment of TB and TB Infection in Adults and Children, American Journal of Respiratory Critical Care Medicine, Vol. 149, Pgs 1359-1374 CDC, Improving Patient Adherence to Tuberculosis Treatment, 1994