Abstract
Occupational latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) among health care workers (HCWs) is an important public health issue. The objective of this study is to assess prevalence and risk factors of LTBI among Japanese HCWs by Quantiferon-TB Gold in Tube (QFT-GIT) and the structured questionnaire. This is a cross-sectional study involving HCWs from a hospital without tuberculosis-specific wards, receiving QFT-GIT for LTBI screening. We reviewed medical records of HCWs and questioned HCWs about exposure to M. tuberculosis and employment length in health care industries. 165 HCWs, approximately 80% of the total hospital staff, were enrolled in this study.18 out of 165 subjects had positive results, suggesting LTBI prevalence rate of 11%. Multiple regression analysis revealed a significant association between the positive or intermediate QFT-GIT results and history of contact investigation for tuberculosis. QFT-GIT positivity rate among HCWs is higher than among general population in Japan.
Highlights
Occupational latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) among health care workers (HCWs) is an important public health issue
The objective of this study is to assess prevalence and risk factors of LTBI among Japanese HCWs by Quantiferon-TB Gold in Tube (QFT-GIT), a new version of Quantiferon®-TB Gold (QFT-G), and the structured questionnaire in a hospital without tuberculosis-specific wards. Setting and design This is a cross-sectional study involving HCWs at the hospital affiliated with the Institute of Medical Science, the University of Tokyo (IMSUT hospital), receiving QFT-GIT for LTBI screening between November 2011 and July 2012
We utilized the questionnaire consisting of the following questions: age, job category, history of contact investigation for tuberculosis, history of living with families who developed active tuberculosis, past history of active/latent tuberculosis infection, length of working in health care industries, history of working in tuberculosis ward/out patient department (OPD)
Summary
Occupational latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) among health care workers (HCWs) is an important public health issue. World Health Organization (WHO) estimate of tuberculosis incidence of Japan in 2011 was 20 per 100,000 population per year. Approximately 80% of nurses with tuberculosis were speculated to be infected by nosocomial infection in Japan (Ohmori et al 2007). Most of the previous studies described the prevalence of LTBI among Japanese HCWs were performed in tuberculosis referral hospitals. The objective of this study is to assess prevalence and risk factors of LTBI among Japanese HCWs by Quantiferon-TB Gold in Tube (QFT-GIT), a new version of QFT-G, and the structured questionnaire in a hospital without tuberculosis-specific wards
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