Screening for tuberculosis: current practices and attitudes of hospital workers.
To examine the current practices and attitudes of health workers to the prevention of tuberculosis in our 55-bed chest unit, we investigated the tuberculin reactor status, reviewed pre-employment screening and reviewed the action taken after contact with tuberculosis by staff members. We assessed all 61 staff members, including 44 nurses, 1 physiotherapist, 11 doctors and 5 domestic workers. 47/61 staff members had had BCG vaccination. Heaf testing revealed 3 Heaf-negative subjects and, of the remainder, 52 had grade 3 or stronger reactions. Only 3/11 doctors, 36/44 nurses and 4/5 domestic workers had had any pre-employment screening. No action was taken by any doctor after their last contact with tuberculosis, whereas 10/44 nurses and 3/5 domestic workers had had chest X-rays. This study shows the low importance with which the risk of tuberculosis is perceived, particularly by doctors and demonstrates the need for stricter supervision and improved quality of pre-employment screening.
Clague
J E
JE
Regional Thoracic Unit, Fazakerley Hospital, Liverpool, UK.
Fields
P
P
Graham
D R
DR
Davies
P D
PD
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001500:BCG Vaccine; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D011859:Radiography; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
D001500:BCG Vaccine