On the risk of infection.
The epidemiological importance of the annual risk of infection with tubercle bacilli has been recognized only recently. Calendar trends in the risk and its association with age have been assessed from tuberculin test data. In The Netherlands, this information has been used to estimate the development of clinical tuberculosis following infection or re-infection. The calendar trend in the risk of infection is the best index of improvement or deterioration in a community. The difficulties of assessing it are outlined.
Sutherland
I
I
Medical Research Council Biostatstics Unit, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
D000367:Age Factors; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007390:International Agencies / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology