Tuberculin Tests on Student Nurses

¹ London, Ontario, Canada

A survey of the tuberculin tests on 709 student nurses at five general hospitals over a four year period was made. The actual incidence of tuberculosis infection, as shown by the positive tuberculin, was only 27 per cent on enrollment.

A comparison of the tuberculin reactions on enrollment and on graduation was reviewed on a series of nurses. It was found that the percentage of positive reactors had increased from 24 per cent on enrollment to 57 per cent on graduation.

The probationers at Hospital 1 were classified as to former residence. In this small series of 335 nurses it was noted that there were only 24 per cent with positive tests in the rural group. The urban group, on the other hand, showed 37 per cent with positive reactions.

It may be difficult to translate correctly the results of this survey but the necessity and importance of the tuberculin test is thereby emphasized. The attitude in regard to tuberculosis as a contagious disease appears to be changing. Children were known to be susceptible, but for years little or no protection was given to adults. Surveys it medical and nursing schools have shown the danger of spread of the disease in your adults.

Although the death rate from tuberculosis has shown a remarkable reduction in the pas quarter century, tuberculosis still accounts for more deaths in young adults than any other disease. The real problem appears to be early diagnosis. In the past there has been a tendency to concentrate on symptoms and physical signs, but frequently these are not present until the disease has reached a far advanced stage. Thus it is evident that the lesion must be discovered before the onset of definite symptoms or signs and the success of an active program for finding the disease appears to be based on mass tuberculin testing and x-ray examination.