Objective: To demonstrate the importance of preventive measures when a case of tuberculosis is detected, identify the causes that favored a tuberculosis outbreak in a school and determine the efficiency of obtaining induced sputum samples.
Design: Descriptive, study.
Setting: The Santa Maria de la Providencia school, located in the municipality of Alcala de Henares in Spain.
Interventions: On April 11, 2005, a case of bacilliform pulmonary tuberculosis was notified in a teacher. Study of contacts in the collective was performed as a programmed intervention. Mantoux skin test and, if positive, chest radiograph were performed in contacts. Treatment of latent or active tuberculosis was recommended according to the result.
Results: School exposures were identified and underwent the Mantoux skin test (142 students in years 1, 2, 3, and 4 of compulsory secondary education and 22 teachers). The Mantoux test was positive in 68 students (48 %) and seven teachers (32 %). In seven students with results compatible with active tuberculosis disease, sputum induction was performed and treatment was started. A further two students, identified as contacts, were studied in another center and also started treatment for active tuberculosis disease. Due to the high risk of contagion, study of contacts was extended to the remaining students in compulsory secondary education. In this second phase, 134 students received the Mantoux skin test and seven were Mantoux positive (5.2 %). In all these students, active tuberculosis disease was ruled out. Latent tuberculosis treatment was recommended in all Mantoux-positive contacts.