Tuberculosis in physicians: a continuing problem.
We evaluated the occurrence of active tuberculosis in 4,575 physicians who graduated between 1938 and 1981 from the same medical school. There were 66 cases. Fifteen (23%) cases were detected after 1970 including 4 diagnosed in 1981. For most years, the incidence of tuberculosis was higher in physicians than in the general population. Forty-eight (73%) patients were between 25 and 34 yr of age at the time of diagnosis. Two thirds of all cases occurred within 6 yr of graduation, even in graduates since 1970. The risk of tuberculosis was 140 per 100,000 persons-years within 6 yr of graduation. Sixty-three percent of initially tuberculin-negative medical students who subsequently had active tuberculosis converted their tuberculin reaction during medical school or clinical training. Recipients of BCG vaccine had 40% less tuberculosis than unimmunized, initially tuberculin-negative, physicians. Health authorities should be cognizant of the continuing risk of tuberculosis in medical students and physicians.
P J
PJ
Geiseler
K E
KE
Nelson
R G
RG
Crispen
V K
VK
Moses
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001500:BCG Vaccine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010820:Physicians; D013337:Students, Medical; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D014481:United States
D001500:BCG Vaccine