scholarly journals Evaluation of QuantiFERON-TB Gold-Plus in Health Care Workers in a Low-Incidence Setting

2017 ◽  
Vol 55 (6) ◽  
pp. 1650-1657 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hee-Won Moon ◽  
Rajiv L. Gaur ◽  
Sara Shu-Hwa Tien ◽  
Mary Spangler ◽  
Madhukar Pai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Low Risk ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Low Incidence ◽  
Positive Results

ABSTRACT Although launched in 2015, little is known about the accuracy of QuantiFERON-TB Gold-Plus (QFT-Plus) for diagnosis of latent M. tuberculosis infection (LTBI). Unlike its predecessor, QFT-Plus utilizes two antigen tubes to elicit an immune response from CD4 + and CD8 + T lymphocytes. We conducted a cross-sectional study in low-risk health care workers (HCWs) at a single U.S. center to compare QFT-Plus to QuantiFERON-TB Gold in-tube (QFT). A total of 989 HCWs were tested with both QFT and QFT-Plus. Risk factors for LTBI were obtained from a questionnaire. QFT-Plus was considered positive if either antigen tube 1 (TB1) or TB2 tested positive, per the manufacturer's recommendations, or if both TB1 and TB2 tested positive, using a conservative definition. Results were compared using Cohen's kappa and linear regression, respectively. Agreement of QFT with QFT-Plus was high, at 95.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 94.3 to 96.9; kappa, 0.57). The majority of discordant results between QFT and QFT-Plus TB1 (84.8%) and QFT and QFT-Plus TB2 (88.6%) fell within the range of 0.2 to 0.7 IU/ml. The positivity rate in 626 HCWs with no identifiable risk factors and no self-reported history of positive LTBI tests was 2.1% (CI, 1.0 to 3.2) and 3.0% (CI, 1.7 to 4.3) with QFT and QFT-Plus, respectively. A conservative definition of a QFT-Plus-positive result yielded a positivity rate of 1.0% (CI, 0.2 to 1.7; P value of 0.0002 versus QFT-Plus and 0.07 versus QFT). On follow-up testing, of 11 HCWs with discordant QFT-Plus results, 90.9% (10/11) had a negative QFT result. The QFT-Plus assay showed a high degree of agreement with QFT in U.S. HCWs. A conservative interpretation of QFT-Plus eliminated nearly all nonreproducible positive results in low-risk HCWs. Larger studies are needed to validate the latter finding and to more clearly define conditions under which a conservative interpretation can be used to minimize nonreproducible positive results in low-risk populations.

scholarly journals Isolation measures and protection awareness are significant for latent tuberculosis infection: a cross-sectional study based on T-SPOT.TB among health care workers in China

2019 ◽  
Vol 147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yunfeng Deng ◽  
Yun Liu ◽  
Yan Li ◽  
Hui Jing ◽  
Yan Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Healthcare Service ◽  
Latent Tuberculosis Infection ◽  
Latent Tuberculosis ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Care Workers

AbstractThis study aimed to reveal the associated risk factors for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) detected by T-SPOT.TB assay among health care workers (HCWs) at different working locations or job categories in China. This cross-sectional study included 934 HCWs who underwent the T-SPOT.TB assay. Demographic and social characteristics of the participants, including age, sex, job categories, department/ward and duration of healthcare service, were recorded. Among 934 HCWs, 267 (28.5867%) were diagnosed as having LTBI with positive T-SPOT.TB assay. HCWs working in inpatient tuberculosis (TB) (odds ratio (OR) 2.917; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.852–4.596; P < 0.001) and respiratory wards (OR 1.840; 95% CI 1.124–3.011; P = 0.015), and with longer duration of healthcare service (OR 1.048; 95% CI 1.016–1.080; P = 0.003) were risk factors for positive T-SPOT.TB result. Furthermore, longer working duration increased the positive rate of T-SPOT.TB results for physicians and nurses, and physicians had higher risks than nurses for the same working duration. Inpatient TB and respiratory wards were high-risk working locations for HCWs with LTBI, and longer duration of healthcare service also increased the risk of LTBI among HCWs. A complete strategy for TB infection control and protection awareness among HCWs should be enhanced.

scholarly journals Assessment of risk factors of non- communicable diseases among healthcare workers in Nelamangala: a cross sectional study

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 745
Author(s):  
Mohamed Tanveer Ahmed ◽  
Jyothi Jadhav ◽  
Ranganath Timmanahalli Sobagaiah
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Communicable Diseases ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Non Communicable Diseases ◽  
Care Workers

Background: India is facing a new challenge of epidemiological health transition where the disease spectrum has changed from communicable diseases to non-communicable diseases. Diabetes mellitus, hypertension, stroke and cardiovascular diseases have emerged as major public health problems. Health care workers considered as mentors to general public are becoming victims to these life style disorders. Hence this study was conducted to assess the risk factors of non-communicable diseases among health care workers.Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out for a period of 2 months- October to November 2016 among 120 health care workers working under the primary health centre’s of Nelamangala. Data was collected by interview method using NCD’s risk factors survey India questionnaire.Results: Among 120 study subjects, males were 14 (11.7%) and females were 106 (88.3%). The mean age of study subjects was 39.19 (8.62). Anganwadi workers were 57 (47.50%), 35 (29.10%) were ASHA workers, 8 (6.60%) were senior health assistants and 20 (16.66%) were junior health assistants. Among these 11 (9.2%) had hypertension. 75 (62.5%) had abnormal waist-hip ratio. 33.3% were overweight and 8.3% were obese.Conclusions: There was an association between physical activity and development of risk factors of NCD’s. Most of them are exposed to second hand smoke i.e. passive smoking. Improved literacy status and creation of awareness about the risk factors and sedentary lifestyle among the health care professionals can protect them for Non communicable diseases. 

Epidemiology of needlestick injuries among health-care workers in Awassa City, Southern Ethiopia

2010 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 111-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moges Tadesse ◽  
Takele Tadesse
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Needlestick Injury ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Southern Ethiopia ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Needlestick Injuries ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Care Workers

Accidental needlestick injuries sustained by health-care workers are a common occupational hazard and a public health issue in health-care settings. An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted and 30.9% of health-care workers had experienced at least one needlestick injury in the previous year.

scholarly journals Screening for Tuberculosis in Health Care Workers: Experience in an Italian Teaching Hospital

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Napoli ◽  
Filippo Ferretti ◽  
Filippo Di Ninno ◽  
Riccardo Orioli ◽  
Alessandra Marani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Teaching Hospital ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Screening Tests ◽  
Specificity And Sensitivity ◽  
Large Teaching Hospital ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Low Incidence ◽  
Positive Results

Health care workers (HCW) are particularly at risk of acquiring tuberculosis (TB), even in countries with low TB incidence. Therefore, TB screening in HCW is a useful prevention strategy in countries with both low and high TB incidence. Tuberculin skin test (TST) is widely used although it suffers of low specificity; on the contrary, the in vitro enzyme immunoassay tests (IGRA) show superior specificity and sensitivity but are more expensive. The present study reports the results of a three-year TB surveillance among HCW in a large teaching hospital in Rome, using TST (by standard Mantoux technique) and IGRA (by QuantiFERON-TB) as first- and second-level screening tests, respectively. Out of 2290 HCW enrolled, 141 (6.1%) had a positive TST; among them, 99 (70.2%) underwent the IGRA and 16 tested positive (16.1%). The frequency of HCW tested positive for TB seems not far from other experiences in low incidence countries. Our results confirm the higher specificity of IGRA, but, due to its higher cost, TST can be considered a good first level screening test, whose positive results should be further confirmed by IGRA before the patients undergo X-ray diagnosis and/or chemotherapy.

scholarly journals Correction to: Mental health status among family members of health care workers in Ningbo, China, during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak: a cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuchen Ying ◽  
Liemin Ruan ◽  
Fanqian Kong ◽  
Binbin Zhu ◽  
Yunxin Ji ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Mental Health Status ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Care Workers

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.

Occupational exposure of health care workers to blood and body fluids in West Shewa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia, 2018: A cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tesfaye Solomon ◽  
Dejene Lemessa
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Work Experience ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Body Fluids ◽  
Health Facilities ◽  
Needle Stick Injury ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Care Workers

Abstract Background: Health care workers are susceptible to acquiring blood and body fluids borne infections due to their occupations involving contact with patients and their body fluids, although studies conducted in Ethiopia are scarce. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the magnitude of exposure to blood and body fluids among health care workers in governmental health facilities in West Shewa Zone, Ethiopia.Materials and methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from May 19 to June 25, 2018. A total of 381 health care workers were selected by simple random sampling from 31 sampled governmental health facilities using proportional to size allocation. Data were collected through self-administered questionnaires, entered into Epi-info version 7, and analyzed by SPSS version 21. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) calculated for variables retained in the multivariable logistic regression and significance declared at p<0.05.Results: Of 377 health care workers who participated, the study found that 233 (61.2%) were exposed to blood and body fluids in their lifetime. Previous needle stick injury (AOR=0.30; 95%CI: 0.12-0.75), type of health facility (AOR=0.42; 95%CI: 0.26-0.68), handwashing practice (AOR=0.15; 95%CI: 0.07, 0.31), and perceiving at risk (AOR=0.16; 95%CI: 0.03, 0.98) were protective factors whereas long work experience (AOR=1.47; 95%CI: 1.13-1.93) was a risk factor for the exposure.Conclusions: Exposures to blood and body fluids during patient care were common among health care workers in the study area. Therefore, health care workers especially those newly hired and working in hospitals should pay due attention to their occupation's safety and regularly practice hand washing during critical times.

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