Tuberculin screening; tuberculosis prevention

Tuberculin skin testing is used to identify, evaluate, and treat people who are at higher risk for latent tuberculosis infection or for developing tuberculosis disease after the infection by M. tuberculosis. We review the criteria, indications and methodology of tuberculin skin testing for the detection of tuberculosis infection and other measures available in primary care for the prevention of tuberculosis in childhood and adolescence, including the study of contacts of people with tuberculosis infection and the treatment of exposure to tuberculosis and of latent tuberculosis infection.