[Evaluation of the epidemiological potential of patients eliminating Koch bacilli demonstrable by direct microscopic...

A retrospective epidemiological study was carried out on the patients in evidence since 1972-1973, following up the contacts from that time. From the data obtained it results that the proportion of contacts who contracted the disease was of 1.06% of the subjects coming in contact with cases negative at the direct microscopic examination and in cultures, 1.1% of the subjects in contact with cases negative at the direct examination but positive in cultures, and 3.9% (four times greater proportion) of the subjects in contact with bacilli eliminators, at the direct examination. The authors emphasize the simplicity and greater output of the microscopic examinations in tuberculosis.