Does Size Matter? Utility of Size of Tuberculin Reactions for the Diagnosis of Mycobacterial Disease

摘要

It is a common belief that larger tuberculin reactions are more se - rious, and more likely to indicate patients with active tuberculosis (TB) or at high risk of disease in the future. Among 182 close con - tacts, and 502 patients suspected of possible active TB, 529 under - went tuberculin skin testing (TST) and 605 had a chest radiograph. Final diagnoses, based on all available clinical, microbiological, his - Tological, and radiographic information, were active TB, 68; inac - Tive TB, 274; nontuberculous mycobacterial disease, 14; conditions Associated with anergy, 36; no detectable abnormality (except a Positive TST) or condition unrelated to TB, 213; and negative TST, No further evaluation, 79.