Prevention of tuberculosis. Vigilance and infection control strategies are mainstays of efforts.

Until a vaccine is available, efforts to control the spread of TB will continue to rely on the effective use of our currently available tools and the diligence of primary care physicians. Rapid diagnosis, directly observed therapy, public health and infection control measures, and appropriate preventive therapy remain the mainstays of TB control. Physicians in the primary care setting, particularly those serving long-term-care institutions or other high-risk populations, need to be keenly aware of the possibility of TB in their patient population and of the methods available in their community for preventing its spread.

A survey of women's health care needs on U.S. Navy ships.

A total of 628 female and 526 male U.S. military personnel completed a health survey questionnaire at the completion of four shipboard deployments lasting 10 to 180 days (mean, 57 days). During deployment, women visited clinic (sick call) at significantly higher rates than men: 189 versus 117 visits per week per 1,000 personnel. Except for generally minor gynecological conditions, women and men had similar medical problems. Upper respiratory complaints and requests for contraceptive pills were the most common reasons for clinic visits among women. The majority of sailors felt that they had received appropriate medical care, although fewer women (66%) than men (78%) were satisfied. Levels of cigarette and alcohol use and sexual activity were comparable among women and men and corresponded to those of the general U.S. population of young adults. Because of high levels of health, most medical needs of women sailors can be managed readily by providing routine gynecological care and by minor additions to the shipboard pharmacy.