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18
Contact Examination
The examination and subsequent supervision of persons coming into
contact with patients suffering from Tuberculosis plays an important part
in the prevention of the spread of infection. During 1966, 643 persons
were examined for the first time as contacts of notified cases of Tubeiv
culosis, giving a contact-case ratio of 6 for each notified case during
the year.
Of these contacts, 9 were found to be tuberculous. This is equal to
a Tuberculosis rate per 1,000 contacts of 14' compared with 0.59 per
1,000 of the general population. In addition there were 4 'found to be
tuberculous who had been under observation from previous years.
B.C.G. Vaccination
The use of B.C.G. vaccination for contacts has been continued
during 1966 and regular sessions are held at the Clinic for this purpose.
356 contacts were successfully vaccinated during the year. In addition
12 nurses and domestics were successfully vaccinated, and 38 babies of
tuberculous parents were vaccinated in hospital during the neonatal
period.
During the year under review the scheme for the B.C.G. Vaccination
of all school children between 13 and 14 years of age continued in
Croydon. Staff from the Chest Clinic visit the Schools and carry out the
necessary Skin Testing and vaccination with B.C.G. The response by
parents to this protection for their children has been satisfactory and
there were no untoward difficulties or complications.
The Staff for this scheme are provided by the Local Authority but
work under the direction of the Chest Physician, and this affords another
practical example of co-operation between those responsible for treatment
and prevention of Tuberculosis.