M 129
Table VI.
Schick Test, Swabbing and Immunisation Against Diphtheria.
Schick Test. Total Individuals Tested...... 84
Sisters......... 8 Positive 5 Negative 3 Nurses.... 26 Positive 9 (4 Senior, 5 Junior) Pseudo-Pos. 3 Negative 14 Dressers ..... Positive 0 Pseudo-Pos. 2 Negative ON D Medical Officers 5 Positive 3 Negative 2 Students.... 35 Positive 12 Pseudo-Pos. 3 Negative 20 Total Positive... 29 Total Pseudo-Pos... 8 Total Negative 47 84Swabbing :-
From each case tested both throat and nasal swabs were taken for direct examination and culture. From one of the negative reactors amongst the nurses the nasal swab revealed the direct presence of K.L.B. and on culture whilst the throat swab gave a negative result. No virulence test was done. One pseudo-positive reactor had an attack of Diphtheria two months previously.
Swabbing was done from the point of view of interest rather than in the hope of any practical value from doing so.
It is doubtful if anything is gained by swabbing all contacts or suspected cases. Some carriers will be discovered but many will be missed because of negative cultures.
Many convalescents after an attack of Diphtheria show the presence of the Bacillus even when three previous consecutive swabs have been negative.