IntroductionCo-existence of silicosis and tuberculosis is known as silico-tuberculosis. This article review the frequency of silicosis and tuberculosis in workers who exposed to silica and evaluate influencing factors that may increase the risk of silico-tuberculosis.MethodsAn analytical cross-sectional study was performed in silica exposed workers in central province of Iran during 2011-2012. Sampling method was un-randomized and considering all workers who at least 6 months exposed to silica. The study was done via questionnaire, clinical examination, spirometry, chest x-ray and tuberculosis investigations.ResultsA total of 3121 workers were included in the study, the mean age of participants was 43.1±12.4 years, and mean employment duration 14.9±6.8 years. Prevalence of TB in silica-exposed workers without silicosis was 172 cases per 100 000 people and prevalence in silicosis cases was 917 cases per 100 000 people. Incidence of TB in silica-exposed workers without silicosis was 69 cases per 100 000 people and incidence in silicosis cases was 459 cases per 100 000 people. The frequency of LTBI/TB was higher in age over thirty years old (P = 0.02), in workers with employment duration over 10 years (P = 0.004), in workers with exposure duration over 5 years (P = 0.03) and smokers with over 5 pack-years (P = 0.01).ConclusionExposure to silica causes a renewed multiplication of bacilli in the healing TB lesions. Prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis in Silicosis is more common when compared to prevalence in general population, hence all should use prophylactic measures Intensification of work place.

Introduction: Asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) is a common condition that occurring during pregnancy and while untreated can be associated with adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. Aim: The aim of this study was to identify the prevalence of ASB in pregnant women referred to prenatal care clinics and determine risk factors and resistance patterns of bacteria isolated from urinary tract infections. Methods: In a prospective study 220 women without urinary symptoms referred to prenatal care clinics randomly. After obtaining informed consent and complete a demographic questionnaire urine samples were taken and cultured. The isolates from all the cases of ASB were identified and antimicrobial susceptibility was tested by the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Results: In this study, the minimum age was 16 years and the maximum was 42 years, mean age was 29.25 ± 7.56 years. The average gestational age in women with ASB was 28.7 ± 6.4 weeks and in patients without ASB was 27.6 ± 5.7 weeks. About 12% of women had ASB. E. coli was found to be the most common isolate. In this study, educational level, previous history of UTI, non-compliance with preventive measures and multi-parity were risk factors of ASB. The least antibiotics resistance was to nitrofurantoin, ceftriaxone, and norfloxacin. Conclusion: Routine screening of antenatal women during all trimesters must be considered for preventing the adverse maternal and fetal outcomes particularly with known risk factors like low educational level, multiparity and previous history of UTI.