Job-related risk of latent tuberculosis infection in a homogeneous population of hospital workers in a low incidence area.

BACKGROUND

Few comprehensive tuberculin surveys were carried out in a homogeneous population of health care workers (HCWs) in a low incidence area to assess the risk of tuberculosis (TB) infection by different occupational groups and units.

METHODS

Community and occupational factors and tuberculin skin test (TST) reactivity were determined in 1,755 HCWs.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of tuberculin reactivity was 6%. Predicting factors for TST reactivity were age >47 years (OR = 2.88), history of household TB contact (OR = 2.41), years of work as HCW (OR = 2.57), physician (OR = 1.88), and working in microbiology (OR = 4.94), dialysis/nephrology (OR = 2.00), gynecology/obstetrics (OR = 2.01). In a multiple regression model working in microbiology [OR = 4.16 (1.27-13.6)], dialysis/nephrology [OR = 2.52 (1.36-4.65)], gynecology/obstetrics [OR = 2.46 (1.24-4.86)] and age >47 years [OR = 1.98 (1.14-3.46)] were significant predictors for infection.

CONCLUSIONS

A higher risk of latent infection can be demonstrated in well-defined groups of HCWs.