The diagnosis of occupational tuberculosis of hospital personnel using the 2-stage intradermal Mantoux reaction
Cérat, G.; Thibault, F.; Duc, Y.
L'Union Medicale du Canada 118(4): 158-160
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0041-6959 PMID: 2603249 Document Number: 332143
Tuberculin skin testing was undertaken among employees of Cité de la Santé in contact with patients when the hospital was first opened in 1978. Since January 1980, two-step testing was done. The rate of the booster phenomenon was 6.9%. In well-documented BCG vaccinated personnel, almost 80% had easily interpretable reactions, either negative or significant. From our data and other data in the literature, we conclude that two-step tuberculin testing should be used if tuberculin skin testing of hospital employees is done in order to detect the booster phenomenon and not to conclude falsely in tuberculin conversion in a subsequent testing.