Introduction:

Latent tuberculosis infection is a state of delayed cellular hypersensitivity immune response of the organism to stimulation by Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens without clinical and radiological evidence of tuberculosis. It can be diagnosed by tuberculin test or tuberculin purified protein derivative.

Objectives:

To determine the frequency of latent tuberculosis infection in medical students and the variables associated with a positive reaction in the tuberculin test.

Methodology:

A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out, in which the tuberculin test was made by the Mantoux method using 0.1 ml of purified protein derivative of Tubersol tuberculin in students of the medicine career of a university.

Results:

Two hundred ninety students participated. The frequency of latent tuberculosis infection was 19.3%. When relating the demographic variables to the positive reaction in the tuberculin test, men were 1,895 times more likely to test positive for the tuberculin test than women.

Conclusions:

The frequency of latent tuberculosis infection in medical students was 19.3% and the variable that presented a statistical association with the positive tuberculin test was male sex.

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