Studies in tuberculosis. I. Incidence of tuberculosis infection in and about Sydney, N.S.W., as shown by intracutaneous tuberculin test. II. Tuberculosis infection in nurses, with special reference to incidence in New South Wales. IV. The incidence of tuberculosis infection in country people in New South Wales compared with that in city dwellers
Anderson, D.
Med Jour Australia 27-27-27(22-23-24): 747-756, 781-786, 829
1940
Document Number: 317566
Intracut. tuberculin tests using P.P.D. were given to 5,822 subjects, or 0.5% of the population of Syndey. The reaction rates in Sydney were fairly low in comparison with those of other countries. At all ages over 15, malemale had higher reaction rates than femalefemale. The reaction rate in infancy and childhood increased with age much faster in home contacts than in noncontacts. Age of first infection was later than in 1923 when a similar survey was made. At least 1/2 of the urban population remained uninfected at the age of 40. The reaction rates of specific occupational and environmental groups are given.--II. Intracut. tuberculin tests were applied at 11 general hospitals to 1025 nurses. One injn. of P.P.D. was given. The % of reactors by age rose faster in nurses than in young women from the population at large, and increased rapidly by length of training irrespective of age. The author discusses measures for control of tuberculosis in hospital personnel under 3 headings: prevention of contagion, of infection, and of serious disease.-IV. The incidence of a positive tuberculin reaction, age for age, was consistently lower among 369 country people than among 2,679 city dwellers.