Health careworkers and risk of hospital-related tuberculosis

Abstract

To determine the incidence and risk of hospital-related TB amongst the health care workers and trainee students of this institution.Retrospective study. Chart review of PTB and EPTB diagnosed byAAFB in sputum, suggestive chest X-ray features of TBand aspiration cytology or tissue histology. Thirty-two (1.5%) of the 2,173 total staff strength developed occupation-related TB in a 15 year period, 15 (47.0%) of which presented as HIV/TB co-infection. Junior HCWs were mostly affected and the male:female ratiowas about 1:2. PTB occurred in 25 staffs (78.1%), EPTB occurred in 5 (15.6%) and 2 (6.3%) had disseminated TB. HCWs directly caring for patients; 24 (75.0%) were mostly affected. They were HCWs from nursing, 15 (47.0%) and clinical services, 9 (28.0%). Duration of employment of the affected HCWs varied from half a year to 11.5 years and the rate of diagnosis of cases varied from nil to 3 per year. Identified risks for acquiring and developing active TB in the hospitalwere; HIVinfection 47.%, diabetesmellitus 9.4%, “alcoholic” liver cirrhosis; 6.3%and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 3.1%. Incidence of hospital-related TB is low amongst the staffs of UITH; however, all the HCWs of the hospital were at risk of exposure. Staffs at the clinical sections had the highest frequency of developing occupation-relatedTB, and HIV infectionwas the commonest risk factor. .

Keywords:Hospital-related TB; Health care workers and Risk factors

Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice Vol. 11 (1) 2008: pp.32-36