A field representative should maintain follow-up responsibility for an individual case through completion of treatment whenever possible. Close paramedical supervision by nurses and field service personnel is a cost-effective way of ensuring completion of treatment. Public Health Issues Tuberculosis surveillance efforts directed towards individuals at high risk of infection or disease should be continued. Routine programs of tuberculosis surveillance directed towards the general community should be discontinued. Repeated or routine chest roentgenographic examinations of patients with tuberculosis who have completed treatment or asymptomatic tuberculin reactors should not be performed.
Clinical symptoms are an indication for a repeat chest x-ray film.
The Mantoux tuberculin test is the only acceptable method for detecting tuberculous infection. Field service representatives should be permitted to perform tuberculin skin tests, deliver prescribed medications, and supervise directly observed ingestion of drugs by patients.