P-44 Screening for latent tuberculosis infection among healthcare workers in an intermediate tuberculosis burden country

Background: In South Korea, a country with an intermediate Tuberculosis (TB) burden, TB infection in healthcare workers (HCWs) has been a serious occupational health issue, and periodic screening for latent TB infection (LTBI) among HCWs is recommended as part of national TB control strategy. We investigated prevalence of LTBI and risk factors among the HCWs in South Korea. Methods: Between November 2016 and May 2017, we carried out TB screening in a tertiary teaching hospital. A total of 421 HCWs received both tuberculin skin test (TST) and QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube test (QFT-G) in addition to chest x-ray. Results: The mean age of subjects was 32.1 years old, and 346 (82.2%) were female. The numbers of positive results for TST and QTF-G were 47 (11.2%) and 56 (13.3%), respectively. The overall agreement between TST and QTF-G was 89.3% with kappa coefficient of 0.503. In multivariate analysis, age, type of profession, and working period were independently associated with positive TST result, while age was the only significant risk factor for positive QTF-G result. Experience of working in TB-related department was not associated with both positive TST and QTF-G results. Conclusion: Prevalence of LTBI among the HCWs in this study was not higher than general population in South Korea. Age was the most significant risk factor for positive LTBI test result. Additional studies are needed for careful selection of candidates for LTBI screening among HCWs in South Korea.