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Updated: Aug 15, 2026
The MODS method for diagnosis of tuberculosis and multidrug resistant tuberculosis
Published on: August 11, 2008
[Acceptance of tuberculosis as an occupational disease]
Abstract:
The acknowledgment of tuberculosis as an infection due to employment (i.e. as an occupational disease) in medical service applies only to few infected persons. Most of them must prove how they contracted the disease. Since this is largely impossible, many claims for damage, due to tuberculosis are not entertained. The negative decisions by the Occupational Co-Operative Society of Medical Service (BGW) against its own members are based on: 1. a doubtful judgment by the Federal Social Court of Justice (document no. 7 RU 34/72, 28.9.1972) and 2. untenable statements by occupational physicians on the epidemiology of infectious diseases. To substantiate such sentences, it is stated that tuberculosis is very rare and that therefore the probability of an infection during the job in medical service would not be higher than during leisure hours. However, this is an incorrect conclusion for several reasons. Notwithstanding that the time of working on the job is only 27% and leisure time 73%, nevertheless the risk of contracting tuberculosis during the job in medical service is 10 to 40 times higher than during leisure hours. Furthermore, still unpublished statistics by the Co-Operative Society show that the risk of an infection was higher for medical service jobs by a factor 22 compared to all other jobs during 1976 to 1994.
Insights
Tuberculosis is often denied as an occupational disease for healthcare workers. However, infection risk in medical service jobs is significantly higher than in leisure time, challenging current legal judgments.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Medicine
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Context:
- Medical service professionals face challenges in acknowledging tuberculosis as an occupational disease.
- Claims for damages due to tuberculosis are frequently denied, often due to difficulties in proving employment-related contraction.
- Current legal and medical assessments underestimate the occupational risk of tuberculosis in healthcare settings.
Purpose:
- To critically evaluate the basis for denying tuberculosis as an occupational disease in medical service.
- To challenge the epidemiological assumptions used by the Occupational Co-Operative Society of Medical Service (BGW) and the Federal Social Court of Justice.
- To highlight the significantly higher risk of tuberculosis infection in medical service jobs compared to leisure time.
Summary:
- The acknowledgment of tuberculosis as an occupational disease for medical service personnel is limited, with many claims rejected due to the difficulty of proving infection source.
- Negative decisions by the BGW are based on a questionable Federal Social Court judgment and flawed statements by occupational physicians regarding tuberculosis epidemiology.
- Contrary to assertions that tuberculosis is rare, the risk of infection during medical service employment is 10 to 40 times higher than during leisure hours, with specific jobs showing a 22-fold increased risk.
Impact:
- This analysis aims to correct the underestimation of occupational tuberculosis risk among healthcare workers.
- It provides evidence to support claims for compensation and recognition of tuberculosis as an occupational hazard in the medical field.
- The findings necessitate a re-evaluation of legal and medical frameworks concerning occupational diseases in healthcare.
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