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Tuberculosis risk among nursing professionals from Central Brazil
Lillian K O Lopes1, Sheila A Teles, Adenicia C S Souza
1Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia City, Goiás, Brazil.
American Journal of Infection Control
|March 4, 2008
Summary
Nurses working with tuberculosis patients face a high risk of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Implementing robust infection control measures is crucial to protect healthcare workers in these settings.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Occupational Health
- Public Health
Background:
- Healthcare workers (HCWs), particularly nurses, are at elevated risk of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection due to direct patient contact.
- Tuberculosis (TB) poses a significant occupational hazard in healthcare settings, especially for those managing infectious patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the prevalence and incidence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection among nursing professionals in a Brazilian infectious disease hospital.
- To identify risk factors associated with tuberculin skin test (TST) positivity in this high-risk group.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 128 nursing professionals underwent a 2-step tuberculin skin test (TST) in 2001.
- Individuals with negative TSTs were followed annually to determine the incidence density of TST conversion.
Main Results:
- Tuberculin skin test (TST) positivity was observed in 69.5% of the nursing professionals.
- Factors associated with TST positivity included length of professional activity and prior direct contact with TB sputum smear-positive patients.
- An incidence density of 11.5 new TST conversions per 100 person-years was recorded, with two cases of extrapulmonary tuberculosis developing.
Conclusions:
- The study underscores the substantial risk of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection among nurses directly caring for TB patients.
- Findings emphasize the critical need for stringent infection control strategies within healthcare facilities to mitigate occupational TB transmission.
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