Rates of tuberculosis infection in healthcare workers providing services to HIV-infected populations. Terry Beirn Community Programs for Clinical Research on AIDS.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) or a positive skin test in healthcare workers (HCWs) providing services to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals and to determine prospectively the incidence of new infections in this population.


METHODS
This prospective cohort study enrolled 1,014 HCWs working with HIV-infected populations from 10 metropolitan areas. Purified protein derivative (PPD) tuberculin skin tests were placed at baseline and every 6 months afterwards on those without a history of TB or a positive PPD. Demographic, occupational, and TB exposure data also were collected.


METHODS
Outpatient clinics, hospitals, private practice offices, and drug treatment programs providing HIV-related healthcare and research programs.


METHODS
A voluntary sample of staff and volunteers from 16 Community Programs for Clinical Research on AIDS units.


RESULTS
Factors related to prior TB or a positive skin test at baseline included being foreign-born, increased length of time in health care, living in New York City, or previous bacille Calmette-Guerin vaccination. The rate of PPD conversion was 1.8 per 100 person years of follow-up. No independent relation was found between the amount or type of contact with HIV-infected populations and the risk of TB infection.


CONCLUSIONS
These data provide some reassurance that caring for HIV-infected patients is not related to an increased rate of TB infection among HCWs in these settings.
Zahnow
K
K
Division of Infectious Diseases, Veterans' Affairs Medical Center, Washington, DC 20422, USA.
Matts
J P
JP
Hillman
D
D
Finley
E
E
Brown
L S
LS
Torres
R A
RA
Ernst
J
J
El-Sadr
W
W
Perez
G
G
Webster
C
C
Barber
B
B
Gordin
F M
FM
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology