[The epidemiological hazard of patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis and undetermined bacterial shedding]

The degree of the epidemiological hazard of new cases of active pulmonary tuberculosis with unconfirmed isolation of tubercle bacilli and patients registered in groups I (without isolation of tubercle bacilli) and II of the dispensary observation was estimated in comparison to persons isolating tubercle bacilli. The hazard of the patients with active tuberculosis of the lungs and not confirmed isolation of tubercle bacilli for the members of their families and neighbours was shown to be 5-6 times lower than that of the patients isolating tubercle bacilli. However, it was 5-6 times higher than that for the population as a whole. It was proposed to perform primary epidemiological arrangements after registration of new cases of active pulmonary tuberculosis or persons with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis before verification of the diagnosis and availability of the results of bacteriological examinations.