Epidemiology of Tuberculosis in a Mental Hospital

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Abstract
Of 3,407 patients studied initially, 343 showed evidence of reinfection type of tuberculosis. An additional 351 patients showed x-ray evidence of calcification either in the pulmonary parenchyma, the hilar glands, or both. Re-x-ray within 1 year of 2,414 patients whose initial films were negative revealed development of active tuberculosis in 16 instances. Segregation of known cases of clinical tuberculosis did not completely eradicate the infection hazard, since 19% of the negative reactors in the general population in 1940 became positive reactors within the year following such segregation. Periodic x-raying of the chest of psychotic patients is of definite value in the early recognition of cases of tuberculosis and the control of this problem. Of the 749 employees studied initially, 28 showed evidence of reinfection type of tuberculosis, 12 of whom were clinically significant. An additional 74 employees showed x-ray evidence of calcification either in the pulmonary parenchyma, the hilar glands, or both. Re-x-ray within 1 year of employees whose initial films were negative revealed development of active tuberculosis in 3 additional instances. Routine x-raying of the chests of employees in contact with tuberculous patients is definitely indicated.

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