Abstract
BackgroundHealth care workers are exposed to patients with tuberculosis and are at risk of nosocomial infection. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with latent tuberculosis infection among health care workers in Malaysia and also to evaluate the agreement between Quantiferon TB Gold in tube test with Tuberculin Skin Test.MethodsA cross sectional study was conducted at four randomly selected hospitals in the Klang Valley from December 2008 to May 2009. Self administered questionnaire was used to obtain information on health care workers and possible risk factors. The response rate for this study was 90.8% with 954 respondents completed the questionnaire and were tested with Quantiferon TB Gold in tube for latent tuberculosis infection. Agreement between Quantiferon TB Gold in tube and Tuberculin Skin Test was assessed among 95 health care workers who consented to undergo both tests.ResultsThe overall prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection among health care workers was 10.6% (CI: 8.6%; 12.6%). Factors significantly associated with latent tuberculosis infection were aged 35 years and older [9.49 (CI: 2.22; 40.50)], history of living in the same house with close family members or friends who had active tuberculosis [8.69 (CI: 3.00; 25.18)], worked as a nurse [4.65 (CI: 1.10; 19.65)] and being male [3.70 (CI: 1.36; 10.02)]. Agreement between Quantiferon TB Gold in tube test and tuberculin skin test at cut-off points of 10 mm and 15 mm was 50.5% and 82.1% respectively. However, Kappa-agreement was poor for both cut-off points.ConclusionThe prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection in Malaysia was relatively low for an intermediate TB burden country. We could not comment on the occupational risk of latent tuberculosis infection among health care worker compared to the general population as there were no prevalence data available for latent tuberculosis infection in the general population. Kappa agreement between Quantiferon TB gold in-tube and tuberculin skin test was poor.
Highlights
Health care workers are exposed to patients with tuberculosis and are at risk of nosocomial infection
Sampling and Study Design A cross sectional study was conducted from December 2008 to May 2009 among health care workers working in hospitals under the Ministry of Health in the Klang Valley, which was part of a bigger study aimed at identifying risk factors of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) among workers in the high and low risk groups
All of the non respondents were from the low risk group except for one medical laboratory technician who was from the high risk group
Summary
Health care workers are exposed to patients with tuberculosis and are at risk of nosocomial infection. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with latent tuberculosis infection among health care workers in Malaysia and to evaluate the agreement between Quantiferon TB Gold in tube test with Tuberculin Skin Test. Individuals with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) are assumed to harbour viable tubercle bacilli in their body These bacilli are dormant but have the potential to reactivate and cause disease. Quantiferon TB Gold in-tube (QFT TB Git) is one of the IGRA that is available commercially It uses enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to measure the production of interferon gamma by circulating T cells in whole blood against specific Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens, namely overlapping peptides corresponding to ESAT-6 (early secreted antigenic target 6), CFP-10 (culture filtrate protein 10) and a portion of tuberculosis antigen TB7.7 (Rv2654). The same study reported specificity of QFT as 96%, and only 87% for TST among healthy population considered at very low risk for LTBI
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