Clinical audit of tuberculin skin testing among medical and applied medical science students of king abdulaziz university

Between January 2013 and December 2013, the medical records of 602 medical and applied medical students at King Abdulaziz University were audited to determine the risk of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Fifty-two students (8.6%) had a positive purified protein derivative (PPD) test. From the positively tested students 27 students (51.9%) had an induration of ≥10 mm, while 25 students (48.1%) had an induration of > 12 mm. Of the students who tested positive, 23 students (44.2%) did not present for follow up or receive treatment; 2 students (3.8%) did not complete treatment. A chest X-ray was done in students with a positive PPD. Of these, 5.76% students had a positive X-ray finding, but they were not offered treatment. Overall, applied medical students at King Abdulaziz University are at risk of contracting tuberculosis. Students should be screened for tuberculosis as early as in the preclinical years to protect both students and patients. Students who test positive should be counseled and treated to prevent infection.