Tuberculosis and National Jewish Health

Since 1899, the National Jewish Health in Denver has treated people with TB. The hospital was established to care for the thousands of people who flocked to Colorado's high altitude and dry climate, seeking the elusive cure for their TB.

In 1919, a research department was established at the hospital. When anti-TB drugs became available in the late 1940s, National Jewish Health was one of the first institutions to base its TB treatment program on the new chemotherapy, contributing refinements and developing combinations of drugs to overcome the problems of drug toxicity and resistance.

Today, National Jewish Health is one of the world's leading centers for the diagnosis and treatment of TB . Research continues at the Center to define new approaches to treat difficult TB infections. Our world-renowned doctors are backed by state-of-the-art laboratories that help them select the most effective drug combinations and dosages. For drug-resistant TB, the New York Times wrote that National Jewish Health provides "the most sophisticated and aggressive treatment the world has to offer." National Jewish Health offers a comprehensive evaluation for TB and drug-resistant TB. It is important to have a referral from the doctor along with previous medical records, chest X-rays and recent TB drug susceptibility testing before scheduling a TB evaluation at the Center. In most cases doctors refer a patient for our highly specialized in-patient program. To refer a patient for a TB evaluation, a doctor can call 1-800-423-8891, x1353. In addition, doctors and other health-care professionals can use this number to obtain consultations regarding current diagnosis and treatment information. Consultation is available for health-care professionals only.

Learn more about our Infectious Diseases Inpatient and Extended Outpatient Program .

Also, through our educational programs , we are training public health workers and clinicians from around the world in TB control.