The study aimed to identify the tuberculosis infection rate among students from the first and last two years in the Schools of Medicine and Nursing at the State University in Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil, in addition to verifying their knowledge on transmission and prevention of occupational tuberculosis and the use of the recommended preventive measures. A cross-sectional study was conducted in which all the students from the first and last two years of Medicine and Nursing answered a standard questionnaire and had a tuberculin skin test (TST) to determine the prevalence of tuberculosis infection. The results showed a difference in the TST reactivity rate between the first and final years of medical school, while there was no difference in nursing students. The study revealed the students' limited knowledge concerning tuberculosis transmission and prevention, leaving them at increased risk of tuberculosis infection.
Tuberculosis; Tuberculin test; Students, Nursing; Students, Medical
