Journal of healthcare quality research
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To assess the results of the implementation of a protocol for the outpatient management of paediatric patients with tuberculosis, and to compare it with the previous approach. ⋯ Although guidelines recommend three microbiological samples for culture, no superior microbiological isolation was detected despite the increased number of samples collected. The management in hospital clinics of patients with suspected tuberculosis with stable clinical situation show similar or better clinical and microbiological results to the previous management, with lower hospital admission rate and with the subsequent cost savings.