Wisnivesky et al developed a clinical prediction rule for deciding if an inpatient with possible pulmonary tuberculosis should be placed in respiratory isolation. The authors are from Mount Sinai Medical Center, Cornell University and St Barnabas Hospital in New York City.
Parameters:
(1) risk factors or symptoms for tuberculosis
(2) PPD tuberculin skin test results
(3) shortness of breath
(4) temperature
(5) pulmonary physical examination
(6) chest X-ray
Parameter |
Finding |
Points |
---|---|---|
risk factors or symptoms of TB |
none |
0 |
|
present |
4 |
PPD skin test results |
negative |
0 |
|
positive |
5 |
shortness of breath |
absent |
0 |
|
present |
-3 |
temperature |
< 38.5°C |
0 |
|
38.5 - 39.0°C |
3 |
|
> 39.0°C |
6 |
physical examination |
crackles absent |
0 |
|
crackles present |
-3 |
chest X-ray |
upper lobes not consolidated |
0 |
|
upper lobes consolidated |
6 |
total score =
= SUM(points for all 6 parameters)
Interpretation:
• minimum total score: (-6)
• maximum total score: 21
• A score >= 1 was used as the criterion for placing the patient in isolation.
Performance:
• The sensitivity was 95% and specificity was 35%.
• The rule had a negative predictive value of almost 100% but a low positive predictive value.
Purpose: To determine if a patient with possible pulmonary tuberculosis should be placed in isolation using the prediction rule of Wisnivesky et al.
Specialty: Infectious Diseases
Objective: severity, prognosis, stage, selection
ICD-10: A15, A16,