Tuberculosis as an occupational hazard in ward workers

Abstract

The present study was designed to estimate the risk of tuberculosis in ward workers in a tertiary care hospital, Lahore. A total 53 ward workers who had been working in chest medicine and internal medicine wards for the last one year, were assessed. As regards demographics, 34 were male and 19 were female with mean age 34.3 years. Out of these workers, three (5.6%) were diagnosed as case of active tuberculosis and all these workers were male. Sputum AFB microscopy was positive in one case. Nosocomial transmission of tuberculosis is known to occur and this risk is much more common in ward workers than that of general population. So it is concluded that there is a significant increased (P<0.001) risk of tuberculosis in ward workers.