Occupational Risk of Latent Tuberculosis Infection in Health Workers of 14 Military Hospitals.
10.3346/jkms.2017.32.8.1251
- Author:
Chang Gyo YOON
1
;
Soo Yon OH
;
Jin Beom LEE
;
Mi Hyun KIM
;
Younsuk SEO
;
Juyoun YANG
;
Kyu Jung BAE
;
Seoyean HONG
;
Eun Suk YANG
;
Hee Jin KIM
Author Information
1. Armed Forces Medical Command, Seongnam, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Military;
Health Worker;
Occupational Exposure;
Latent Tuberculosis
- MeSH:
Cross Infection;
Delivery of Health Care;
Hospitals, Military*;
Humans;
Interferon-gamma Release Tests;
Latent Tuberculosis*;
Logistic Models;
Mass Screening;
Military Personnel*;
Occupational Exposure;
Odds Ratio;
Patient Care;
Prevalence;
Radiography;
Risk Factors;
Skin Tests;
Thorax;
Tuberculin;
Tuberculosis
- From:Journal of Korean Medical Science
2017;32(8):1251-1257
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Tuberculosis (TB) is a known occupational risk to health workers. Identifying risk factors in health care settings is critical to the prevention of TB for health workers and patients. In 2014, we carried out a TB screening and survey for 902 health workers from 14 selected military hospitals to determine the prevalence rate of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) as well as occupational risk factors. Of all subjects, 19.5% reported having provided TB patient care for 1 year or more (176/902), and 26.9% (243/902) were positive for the tuberculin skin test (TST) (10 mm or more of induration). Additionally, 21.4% (52/243) of those who tested positive were also positive for the interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA). The proportion of LTBI in the study population was 5.8% (52/902). In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, providing TB patient care for one year or more was the only significant occupational risk factor (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.27; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.13–4.56). This study suggests that military health workers working with TB patients should be regularly examined by chest radiography, TST and IGRA to detect LTBI in the early stage and control nosocomial infection of TB.
