Tuberculin skin test screening practices among US colleges and universities.

摘要: Context.—Concern about transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis on college campuses has prompted some schools to institute tuberculin skin test screening of students, but this never been evaluated.Objective.—To describe screening practices and results in colleges universities the United States.Design Setting.—Self-administered mail telephone questionnaire November December 1995 a stratified random sample US 2-year 4-year universities.Main Outcome Measures.—Type screening required; types requiring screening; number rate of students with positive and/or diagnosed as having tuberculosis.Results.—Of the 3148 universities, 624 (78%) 796 surveyed responded. Overall, 378 schools (61%) required it was for all new students (US residents international students) 161 (26%) 624 schools, new students but not 53 (8%), specific academic programs 294 (47%). Required more likely vs schools, schools that belonged American College Health Association nonmember schools, immunization requirements without, and schools student health clinic those without (P<.001 all). Public private were equally likely require (64% 62%; P=.21). In screening requirements, tine or multiple puncture tests accepted 95 (25%); recorded millimeters induration 100 (27%) reported collecting centralized registry database. Of 168 624 accepting only Mantoux reporting school years 1992-1993 through 1995-1996, 3.1% 348,368 screened had positive (median percentage positive, 0.8%). International had significantly higher case active tuberculosis than (35.2 1.1 per 100,000 students screened).Conclusions.—Widespread students yielded low prevalence reactors few tuberculosis cases. To optimize use limited public resources, tuberculin should target at high risk for infection.