Abstract
Health care workers (HCWs) in high tuberculosis (TB) prevalence countries have to care for many cases, thus increasing their risk of infection. The objective of the study was to compare the prevalence of latent TB infection (LTBI) between general HCWs and TB HCWs, and also to explore the associated factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar from September 2019 to January 2020. Staff working at two general hospitals were recruited. Those allocated for TB care were classified as TB HCWs, while the remaining were classified as general HCWs. Participants were interviewed using a structured questionnaire, and screened for LTBI using a tuberculin skin test (TST). Individuals who had an induration of 10 mm or more with normal chest radiograph were regarded as having LTBI. The prevalence of LTBI among general HCWs was 2.04 times higher than that of TB HCWs (31.2% vs. 15.3%, p < 0.001). The associated factors for LTBI included low education level, duration of work experience ≥ 10 years, a low knowledge of regular TB screening, and teaching cough etiquette to TB patients. The higher prevalence of LTBI in the general HCWs in this study was due to confounding by education and experience. After adjustment for these, we have no evidence to support that either group of HCWs had higher LTBI risk.
Highlights
Tuberculosis is an airborne infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis [1]
Staff working at the general hospital were approached and recruited to the study. Those who were involved in caring for TB patients were classified as TB Health care workers (HCWs) while the remaining were classified as general HCWs
This study found that the prevalence of latent TB infection (LTBI) among general HCWs was double that among TB HCWs
Summary
Tuberculosis is an airborne infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis [1]. An individual can have an asymptomatic latent TB infection (LTBI) after inhalation of infectious droplets [2,3]. About 5–10% of LTBI individuals will eventually develop an active TB disease [4,5]. Individuals with LTBI will not show any clinical, bacteriological or radiological features. The tuberculin skin test (TST) is one of the diagnostic tests for latent TB [6]. TB has been a top-priority health problem of Myanmar. Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccination has become part of the Expanded Program of Immunization in Myanmar since 1978. BCG vaccine is administered to all newborns at birth, and the current coverage is estimated to be 86% [7]. Nay Pyi Taw is one of the high TB burden areas, with a notification rate of 269 per 100,000 people in 2017
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