In-hospital contact investigation among health care workers after exposure to pulmonary tuberculosis in an intermediate tuberculosis prevalence area: A prospective study |
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| Authors: | Youn Jeong Kim Yoon-Hee Chi Ji Young Lee Hyeon Jeong Lee Ji Young Kang Yang Ree Kim |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea;2. Infection Control Team, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea;3. Infection Control Team, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea;4. Division of Pulmonary Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea |
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| Abstract: | We carried out in-hospital contact investigations of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and analyzed the prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) among health care workers (HCWs) after TB exposure. A prospective study was conducted of 872 HCWs who were exposed to 55 index cases diagnosed with active pulmonary TB. HCWs after TB exposure were evaluated both TST and chest X-ray at the time of enrollment and 12 weeks after exposure; 625 HCWs (71.6%) underwent both initial assessments; 41 HCWs (6.6%) had a positive TST result. After 12 weeks, 71.1% of HCWs with initial negative TST (n = 415) underwent a second assessment. Ten HCWs had TST conversion. One HCW (0.2%) developed active pulmonary TB. In multivariable analysis, age over 30 years was associated with TST conversion (p = .02). Point prevalence of latent TB was 6.6%, and incidence of LTBI was estimated as 2.4 per 100 HCWs. Strict infection control measures should be emphasized in intermediate TB-burden, BCG-vaccinated countries, especially in HCWs with high risk for TB exposure. |
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| Keywords: | Health care worker infection control tuberculin skin test tuberculosis |
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