TUBERCULOSIS INFECTION AMONG PEOPLE WITH SEVERE MENTAL-ILLNESS

In a study of the prevalence of tuberculosis infection and risk factor s for infection among people with severe mental illness, 71 participan ts in a psychiatric day program were given a tuberculin skin test. Twe lve of the 71 subjects (17 percent) had positive results. None had act ive tuberculosis. Those with tuberculosis infection were more likely t o be immigrants and to be above the study group's median age of 32. El even of the 12 infected subjects had experienced at least one of seven risk factors for tuberculosis infection, which suggests that more cli nical attention should be placed on tuberculosis infection in this pop ulation.