Study on risks of tuberculosis infections among health care workers in tuberculosis special hospitals

OBJECTIVE To explore the risk factors for exposure to tuberculosis infections among health care workers(HCWs) in tuberculosis special hospitals so as to take effective prevention and control measures to reduce the risk of tuberculosis infections.METHODS Cluster sampling method was used,and the participants were interviewed by trained health workers under a structured questionnaire.PPD and T-SPOT.TB test were used simultaneously.RESULTS A total of 497 participants who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled in this study,98.59% of the subjects considered that they had intimate contact with tuberculosis patients in routine works,81.89% of the subjects wore masks at work,and 82.70% of the subjects recognized they had been vaccinated with BCG;the positive rate of PPD test was 66.0%,and the positive rate of T-SPOT.TB test was 10.87%,the difference in the test results among the staff with various occupations was not statistically significant,the positive rate of PPD test was found to be significantly associated with working lifetime(χ2=11.1936,P=0.0107),while the result of T-SPOT.TB test was not significantly associated with working lifetime.CONCLUSION To reinforce the personal protection and healthcare education for the medical faculty,the administrative personnel and the fresh health care worker in particular,has great significance.