Skip to main content
Home / The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Volume 8, Number 10

Tuberculin skin testing in BCG-vaccinated populations of adults and children at high risk for tuberculosis in Taiwan

Buy Article:

$34.78 + tax (Refund Policy)

SETTING: Various populations at high risk for tuberculosis (TB) infection and with high bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination coverage in eastern Taiwan.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the usefulness of the tuberculin skin test (TST) to diagnose TB in BCG-vaccinated populations.

DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey.

RESULTS: TST reaction size was recorded for 444 individuals ranging in age from 8 months to 99 years, of whom 94.3% had scars to suggest previous BCG vaccination. The TST-positive (≥10 mm) rate was increased in all comparisons of higher to lower TB risk, including household contacts (relative risk [RR] 3.52, P < 0.0001) and intermediate risk residents (RR 2.30, P = 0.030) compared to a lower risk control group. Advancing age was generally associated with increases in the TST-positive rate. Gender or the number of BCG vaccinations had no relation to the TST-positive rate.

CONCLUSIONS: The results of this survey suggest that in eastern Taiwan a positive TST represents either active or latent TB infection rather than past BCG vaccination. Therefore, high BCG vaccination coverage in this region does not appear to limit the usefulness of the TST as a tool for diagnosing TB.

Keywords: BCG vaccine; RT23 tuberculin; Taiwan; tuberculin skin test; tuberculosis

Document Type: Regular Paper

Affiliations: Department of Community Health, Mennonite Christian Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan

Publication date: 01 October 2004

More about this publication?

  • The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (IJTLD) is for clinical research and epidemiological studies on lung health, including articles on TB, TB-HIV and respiratory diseases such as COVID-19, asthma, COPD, child lung health and the hazards of tobacco and air pollution. Individuals and institutes can subscribe to the IJTLD online or in print – simply email us at [email protected] for details.

    The IJTLD is dedicated to understanding lung disease and to the dissemination of knowledge leading to better lung health. To allow us to share scientific research as rapidly as possible, the IJTLD is fast-tracking the publication of certain articles as preprints prior to their publication. Read fast-track articles.

  • Editorial Board
  • Information for Authors
  • Subscribe to this Title
  • International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease
  • Public Health Action
  • Ingenta Connect is not responsible for the content or availability of external websites

Share Content

  • Access Key
  • Free content
  • Partial Free content
  • New content
  • Open access content
  • Partial Open access content
  • Subscribed content
  • Partial Subscribed content
  • Free trial content