Serial Tuberculin Testing and Isoniazid Therapy in General Hospital Employees

Abstract

A tuberculin testing program for hospital employees was conducted at the University of Virginia Hospital over a two-year period. The rate of positive reactions was 13.6% among 1,980 employees tested in 1968 and 16.0% among 1,013 employees evaluated in 1969. The yearly conversion rate was 1.9%. Most of the converters were detected during follow-up of employees in contact with patients with active disease. Minimal, active pulmonary tuberculosis was observed on x-ray films of the chest in two converters. After one year of isoniazid treatment, 50% of the newly tuberculin converted employees reverted to negative, 25% had a decreased reaction, and 25% remained unchanged. The results reported in this study strongly support the need for the continuation of tuberculosis control programs in general hospitals.