Rate of Tuberculin Reactivity Among Health Care Workers in Ibn-Zuhur and Ibn-Alkhateeb Hospitals

Abstract

ABSTRACT:BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis is one of the oldest diseases known to affect humans, it caused by infection with Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, which is part of a complex organisms including M.bovis ( reservior Cattle ) and M.africanum ( reservior human ). Mycobacterium Tuberculosis is most commonly transmitted from a patient with infectious pulmonary TB to other person by droplet nuclei which are aerosolized by coughing, sneezing or speaking. Health care workers are exposed to a variety of infections, including TB. the standard test for detecting Latent TB infection is tuberculin skin test (Mantoux test) using purified protein derivatives of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis.OBJECTIVE: Is to estimate the rate of TB transmission from patients with active disease to the Health care workers, and also to study the relation of different variables to the transmission risk including (Gender, Vaccination, and Duration of contact or occupation duration). SUBJECT AND METHODS: Cross sectional descriptive study done in Ibn-Zuhur hospital and Ibn-alkhateeb hospital between April and May 2013 .One hundred and two Health care workers were included in this study (50) HCWs from Ibn-zuhur hospital and (52) Health care workers from Ibn-Alkhateeb hospital. 5 units of PPD (0.1mL) had been injected intradermally to the volar surface of forearm to be seen within 48-72 hours. The test was considered positive if (>=10mm induration) developed.RESULTS:The study shows the rate of tuberculin reactivity among health care workers 25.5% (26/102) a significant relationship between duration of work in hospital and tuberculin reactivity among HCWs. (50) HCWs from Ibn-zuhur hospital their age ranging between 24-48 years mean 36 year, 34 (68%) were male and 16 (32%) female and (52) HCWs from Ibn-Alkhateeb hospital their age ranging between 21-43 years mean 32 year, 42 (81%) were male and 10 (19%) female.in Ibn-zuhur hospital 32%(16/50) Ward nursing staff (5-10) years' work duration shows the higher rate (38.5%) followed by Laboratory staff ( 5-10) years (28.57%) and then doctors < 5 years' work (25%) ,service workers (2-5) years' work shows (22.22 %).While in Ibn-Alkhateeb hospital 19% (10/52) ward nursing staff (5-10) years' work duration shows the higher rate 27% followed by Laboratory staff (20%) and then service workers (2-5) years' work shows (12.5%) while doctors < 5 years work duration shows (8.5%).CONCLUSION: Health care workers have high rate of latent TB infection. Their positivity correlated with the duration of their jobs. Health care workers with negative tuberculin skin test should be immunized with BCG vaccine..