Institutionalised persons, including prisoners. Persons living in sub-standard, overcrowded conditions. Where there is evidence of drug resistance to INH or rifampicin or to both, short course anti-TB chemotherapy would be inappropriate. With the introduction of potent anti-TB drugs, hospitalisation of tuberculous patients is no longer mandatory unless social conditions or coexisting medical conditions dictate otherwise. The success of treatment relies heavily on patient compliance and direct supervision should be the aim of any treatment program.
Compliance is important to prevent the development of drug resistance.
In the general Victorian population, over 90 per cent of positive Mantoux tests are due to previous BCG vaccination. There are several other Mycobacteria besides M. tuberculosis and exposure to any one of these Mycobacteria can give a positive result. As a diagnostic aid. It also prevents pulmonary TB but with less efficacy. BCG vaccination is preceded by an intradermal tuberculin, Mantoux test, which is read at 72 hours but may be read from 48 hours up to 5 days.