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New Haven Hospital QISS GB 325 New Haven, CT 06504 USA Dr. Jeff Topal 688-4634 |
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| TB Screening |
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Screening for TB Infection in High-Risk Populations
Most active TB cases arise from patients with latent TB infection. Accordingly, to reduce the potential risk for new cases arising from the community, as well as, to reduce such risk from frequently hospitalized patients, groups at high risk for TB should be routinely tuberculin skin tested and offered preventive therapy if indicated according to established guidelines. The goal of tuberculin screening is to identify those individuals who will benefit from prophylactic therapy to avert future disease. Currently, tuberculin screening is performed via a Mantoux intradermal tuberculin skin test or more commonly known as a PPD (purified protein derivative). Note that such testing identifies latent infection with TB. Active TB case identification is better accomplished through the use of appropriate chest X-rays and sputum testing. Tuberculin skin testing is an adjunctive measure to identify those who may be latently infected with TB. As such, it cannot distinguish between latent and active TB infection. In fact, up to 20% of individuals with active TB may have a negative PPD.
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Last modified: February 27, 2001.
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