Tuberculin Testing In Ontario Mental Hospitals: A 15-YEAR REVIEW OF STAFF

Abstract

The value of tuberculin testing for case finding in children and contacts has been stressed in recent years by Myers,6 Heaf7 and Hsu.8 This 15-year review shows the value of serial tuberculin testing in an adult group who are not known contacts and are in apparent good health in the following ways: Reactors are declining steadily. The rate of tuberculin conversions is declining. About 33 per 1,000 converted during the 15 years. Men converted more often than women. All age groups converted at about the same rate. Of convertors about 31 per 1,000 progressed to active tuberculosis, approximately equally for men and women. Convertors in age groups up to 39 years yielded the majority of active cases. The majority of convertors becoming active did so within four or five months. Cases of active tuberculosis where the tuberculin test was the first step in diagnosis showed an excellent prognosis. The rate of staff members with arrested tuberculosis has steadily declined.