PREVALENCE OF POSITIVE TUBERCULIN TESTS I N A POPULATION OF PATIENTS REQUIRING LONG-TERM HOSPITALIZATION

OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence of positive tuberculin tests in a population of patients requiring long-term care in a hospital settin g. DESIGN Prevalence study: to evaluate reaction to the test among pat ients who agreed to be included in the study. SETTING The study took p lace in two units of the Enfant-Jesus hospital where patients are admi tted for chronic care. PARTICIPANTS A total of 108 patients were eligi ble for the study; 56 agreed to take part. One patient died before the study was completed. INTERVENTIONS The tuberculin test consisted of a n injection of PPD-T and reading the reaction 48 to 78 hours later. A reaction >10 mm was considered significant. Patients with insignifican t reactions were injected again 2 weeks later in order to evaluate pos itive response secondary to reactivation of the immune system (booster effect). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Indications of previous tuberculosis, risk factors for tuberculosis, immunosuppressive medication, length of stay in hospital, size of reaction. RESULTS Seventeen tuberculin test s were positive (30.9%); of these, six were positive after the second injection. CONCLUSION The prevalence of positive tuberculin tests was high in our elderly population; this finding is comparable to the find ings of American studies.