Prevalence and factors associated with tuberculosis infection among new school entrants, New York City, 1991-1993.

Abstract

Even in the midst of a tuberculosis resurgence such as that experienced by New York City, where tuberculosis cases nearly tripled from 1978 to 1992, the risk of tuberculosis infection among school children remained quite low. Given the reduced predictive value of the tuberculin test among low risk children and the effects of BCG vaccination, many children (especially younger children) with positive tuberculin test results are probably not infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. To reduce unnecessary evaluation and treatment, routine tuberculin tests should be administered only to high risk groups such as older children from countries with high rates of tuberculosis.