[Spreading of tuberculosis]

Tuberculosis was spread from a 15-year-old girl, treated for pneumonia with antibiotics for months and not separated from school, with open disease to a further 77 children. A 2 1/2-year-old niece developed open perforating bronchial lymph node tuberculosis, 34 companions from school and sports developed closed active lymph node tuberculosis and 42 pupils showed suspect chest radiographs with positive tuberculin tests. All of them had to be treated. Contact investigations in more than 1000 children became necessary in 3 steps. One student with open tuberculosis was found as source for a further 5 infected persons found by contact assessments. Proper individual prophylaxis can only be assured by BCG immunisation preventing such spread (disposition prophylaxis). It should be done as extensively as possible in newborn infants and in tuberculin negative children prior to leaving school.