Abstract
Objectives: The aim of this work was to assess the prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in the multinational healthcare workers (HCWs) in Muhayil, Saudi Arabia.
Methods:
This work was performed in 2013 and included all hired HCWs in Muhayil National Hospital (MNH), Muhayil, south of Saudi Arabia. Data were collected from HCWs including; age, gender, job category, and country of citizenship. They were examined for LTBI using the tuberculin skin test (TST) after consenting to do the test. CXR was also done to all participants to (and if needed sputum stain for Mycobacterium tuberculosis smear) for detection of active disease. Statistical analysis was done and p values less than 0.05 were considered significant.
Results
Out of the 208 HCWs tested with TST 47 (22.5%) were positive. The prevalence of LTBI was highest in age group ≥50 years [26.3 % (n=5)] and lowest in the age group 20-29 years [19% (n=14)]. The prevalence of LTBI was highest in nurses [28.7% (n=21)] and lowest in physicians [16.5% (n=7)]. The prevalence of LTBI was highest in HCWs from the Philippine [27.5% (n=23)] and lowest in HCWs from the Middle East, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen [16.5% (n=3)]. Signs suggestive of inactive TB was found in 10% (N=21), and all of them were TST positive (44.5% of all TST positive participants).
Conclusions: LTBI is prevalent in HCWs in Muhayil National Hospital especially in nurses and in HCWs from countries with high rates of tuberculosis (Philippine and South Asia).