Prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection among tuberculosis laboratory workers in Iran

Abstract

OBJECTIVESThe risk of transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from patients to health care workers (HCWs) is a neglected problem in many countries, including Iran. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of latent tuberculosis (TB) infection (LTBI) among TB laboratory staff in Iran, and to elucidate the risk factors associated with LTBI.METHODSAll TB laboratory staff (689 individuals) employed in the TB laboratories of 50 Iranian universities of medical sciences and a random sample consisting of 317 low-risk HCWs were included in this cross-sectional study. Participants with tuberculin skin test indurations of 10 mm or more were considered to have an LTBI.RESULTSThe prevalence of LTBI among TB laboratory staff and low-risk HCWs was 24.83% (95% confidence interval [CI], 21.31 to 27.74%) and 14.82% (95% CI, 11.31 to 19.20%), respectively. No active TB cases were found in either group. After adjusting for potential confounders, TB laboratory staff were more likely to have an LTBI than low-risk HCWs (prevalence odds ratio, 2.06; 95% CI, 1.35 to 3.17).CONCLUSIONSThis study showed that LTBI are an occupational health problem among TB laboratory staff in Iran. This study reinforces the need to design and implement simple, effective, and affordable TB infection control programs in TB laboratories in Iran.

A Study of The Prevalence of Latent Tuberculosis in Household Contacts of Patients with Active Tuberculosis in Kurdistan Region of Iraq: A Brief Report

“…In a study conducted in Iran recruiting HCW dealing with TB samples, the recruited samples were classified into two groups: low-risk and high-risk staff. The prevalence of LTBI was found to be 24.8% and 14.8% in high and low risk, respectively (8). In a study conducted in Iraq recruiting 212 HCW, the prevalence of LTBI was 27.8%.…”

Occupational Tuberculosis Among Laboratory Workers in South Africa: Applying a Surveillance System to Strengthen Prevention and Control

“…TB transmission is pronounced in laboratories and medical wards [16] due to persistent occupational exposure to sputum samples from active TB patients [5,6,17]. This study presents a unique opportunity to observe the insights that can be systematically gained through the collection of information from a workplace occupational health surveillance programme.…”

“…General workers identified "office work", "routine cleaning" and "non-specific" causes (26%-32%) as contributors to exposure (Table 3). 19 (17) Seeking treatment via private physician was most common in medical staff (67% of cases), while others remained comparable; laboratory skilled (46% of cases), laboratory unskilled (50% of cases) and general workers (30% of cases). Being admitted to hospital was nearly as common and similarly distributed through the occupations: medical staff (33% of cases), laboratory skilled (42% of cases), laboratory unskilled (50% of cases) and general workers (45% of cases).…”

Incidence and Predictive Factors of Latent Tuberclosis Infection amongst Personnel of Ayatollah Rouhani Hospital in Babol, 2015-2016

“…In this study, the prevalence of tuberculosis in 400 cases was 14.7%, and its incidence was 6%, and among patients with LTBI, 94.4% of cases had a history of contact with TB patients. According to the World Health Organization statistics in 2015, the incidence of LTBI in the general population of Iran was reported to be 16 per 100,000 people 13 . Considering that health care providers are at high risk for being exposed to TB and as a result, the occurrence of LTBI, and since the present study was conducted among this population, high incidence of this disease compared to the general population is expected.…”