<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> Background: Tuberculosis is a common health problem in developing countries including Thailand. The association between occupation and recent onset of tuberculosis is unclear. Objective: We studied the association of job types and tuberculin conversion or recent onset latent tuberculosis in healthcare workers in an endemic area of tuberculosis. Design and Sample: A case-control study was done at Srinagarind Hospital, Thailand. Cases were subjects with tuberculin conversion, while controls were subjects with negative results of tuberculin skin test (TST) in two consecutive years. Results: One thousand twenty five subjects completed two consecutive TST between 2001 and 2009. The rate of tuberculin conversion was 19.8% or 203 subjects. In a multivariate model, the only three significant factors for tuberculin conversion were male gender, having a BCG scar, and job type. Only nurses, nurse assistants, and ward workers were significantly associated with tuberculin conversion with adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval] of 2.3 [1.3-4.1], 2.3 [1.3-4.7], and 3.0 [1.8-5.0], respectively. Conclusion: Being male, having a BCG scar, and certain job types increase the risk of latent tuberculosis in healthcare workers. Tuberculosis infection control program should emphasize job types for healthcare workers who are at increased risk.</abstract>

Background: Tuberculosis is a common health problem in developing countries including Thailand. The association between occupation and recent onset of tuberculosis is unclear. Objective: We studied the association of job types and tuberculin conversion or recent onset latent tuberculosis in healthcare workers in an endemic area of tuberculosis. Design and Sample: A case-control study was done at Srinagarind Hospital, Thailand. Cases were subjects with tuberculin conversion, while controls were subjects with negative results of tuberculin skin test (TST) in two consecutive years. Results: One thousand twenty five subjects completed two consecutive TST between 2001 and 2009. The rate of tuberculin conversion was 19.8% or 203 subjects. In a multivariate model, the only three significant factors for tuberculin conversion were male gender, having a BCG scar, and job type. Only nurses, nurse assistants, and ward workers were significantly associated with tuberculin conversion with adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval] of 2.3 [1.3-4.1], 2.3 [1.3-4.7], and 3.0 [1.8-5.0], respectively. Conclusion: Being male, having a BCG scar, and certain job types increase the risk of latent tuberculosis in healthcare workers. Tuberculosis infection control program should emphasize job types for healthcare workers who are at increased risk.

Can job titles be predictors for recent onset latent tuberculosis in health care workers?

Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailandn

The Research and Diagnosis Center for Emerging Infectious Disease, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002,

Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002,

Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002,

Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002,

Infectious control unit, Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002,

Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand

Asian Biomedicine

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Background: Tuberculosis is a common health problem in developing countries including Thailand. The association between occupation and recent onset of...

Can job titles be predictors for recent onset latent tuberculosis in health care workers?

Article Category: Original article

Publicado en línea: 04 feb 2017

Páginas: 535 - 539

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5372/1905-7415.0604.087

Palabras clave
Healthcare workers, job title, latent tuberculosis

© 2017

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Can job titles be predictors for recent onset latent tuberculosis in health care workers?

Article Category: Original article

Publicado en línea: 04 feb 2017

Páginas: 535 - 539

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5372/1905-7415.0604.087

Palabras claveHealthcare workers, job title, latent tuberculosis

© 2017

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Palabras clave
Healthcare workers, job title, latent tuberculosis