Minimizing Tuberculosis Risk to Hospital Personnel and Students Exposed to Unsuspected Disease

Authors:
Publisher website
Google Scholar
Abstract
A 15-month prospective study of the personnel and students exposed to initially unsuspected active cases of tuberculosis was undertaken to define the risk of their acquiring infection. Eight of 484 (1.65%) personnel exposed to 17 initially unsuspected tuberculosis patients and 5 of 2013 (0.25%) unexposed personnel with similar risk but no known exposures developed positive tuberculin skin tests. This greater than sixfold increase in conversion rate for the exposed group was significant (chi-2=14.83; P=0.0003). Delay in making the diagnosis in these patients was associated with failure to apply a tuberculin skin test on admission in 14 patients and radiologic misinterpretation in 15. A comprehensive surveillance method involving the Employee and Student Health Departments as well as the Public Health Department is suggested to minimize the risk of undiagnosed tuberculosis.

This publication has 15 references indexed in Scilit: