[Tuberculosis among nurses in Aichi Prefecture, Japan].

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Occupational Health
• Infectious Disease Control

Background:

• Nurses are at the forefront of patient care, increasing their potential exposure to infectious diseases like tuberculosis (TB).
• Understanding TB transmission patterns among nurses is crucial for implementing effective preventive measures in healthcare settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the incidence of tuberculosis (TB) among nurses.
• To compare TB risk between nurses and the general female population.
• To identify specific work environments contributing to higher TB infection rates among nurses.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study analyzing TB patient registration files in Aichi Prefecture from 1989-2003.
• Identified 1,283 women with TB, including 80 nurses, and reviewed their occupations and workplaces.
• Calculated TB incidence rates and relative risks based on occupation and work setting.

Main Results:

• Nurses exhibited a 3-fold higher TB incidence (39.5 per 100,000) compared to non-nurses (13.2 per 100,000).
• Hospital nurses had a significantly higher TB incidence (49.1 per 100,000) and relative risk (3.7) than clinic nurses (14.3 per 100,000; relative risk 1.1).
• The proportion of younger nurses (20-29 years) decreased, while older nurses (40-49 years) increased; nurses in TB hospitals also decreased over time.

Conclusions:

• Nurses face a substantially elevated risk of TB infection compared to the general female population.
• Working in hospitals, particularly those with emergency departments and over 250 beds, is associated with a higher risk of TB infection for nurses.
• Findings underscore the need for enhanced infection control protocols and occupational health surveillance for nurses, especially those in hospital settings.