American journal of preventive medicine
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To examine the effects of a community program on tuberculosis incidence, prevalence, and transmission requiring users of public facilities to carry cards certifying their compliance with a tuberculosis screening, prophylaxis, and treatment program. Community knowledge of tuberculosis and costs and benefits of the program are described. ⋯ A program of mandated compliance with tuberculosis skin testing, radiologic and sputum examination and treatment, coupled with education and outreach, succeeded in drastically reducing active tuberculosis, transmission, deaths, and cost in a homeless community.