Tuberculin skin testing among healthcare workers in the University of Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the occupational risk of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection among healthcare workers (HCWs) and to examine the utility of tuberculin skin testing in a developing country with a high prevalence of bacille Calmette-Guerin vaccination.


METHODS
Tuberculin skin test (TST) survey.


METHODS
A tertiary-care referral center and a teaching hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.


METHODS
HCWs from medical, surgical, and orthopedic wards.


METHODS
Tuberculin purified protein derivative RT-23 (State Serum Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark) was used for the TST (Mantoux method).


RESULTS
One hundred thirty-seven (52.1%) and 69 (26.2%) of the HCWs tested had indurations of 10 mm or greater and 15 mm or greater, respectively. Medical ward HCWs were at significantly higher risk of a positive TST reaction than were surgical or orthopedic ward HCWs (odds ratio, 2.18; 95% confidence interval, 1.33 to 3.57; P = .002 for TST positivity at 10 mm or greater) (odds ratio, 2.61; 95% confidence interval, 1.44 to 4.70; P = .002 for TST positivity at 15 mm or greater). A previous TST was a significant risk factor for a positive TST reaction at either 10 mm or greater or 15 mm or greater, but a duration of employment of more than 1 year and being a nurse were only significantly associated with a positive TST reaction at a cut-off point of 15 mm or greater.


CONCLUSIONS
HCWs at the University of Malaya Medical Centre had an increased risk for M. tuberculosis infection that was significantly associated with the level of occupational tuberculosis exposure. A TST cut-off point of 15 mm or greater may correlate better with M. tuberculosis infection than a cut-off point of 10 mm or greater in settings with a high prevalence of bacille Calmette-Guerin vaccination.
Tan
Lian-Huat
LH
Department of Medicine, University of Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Kamarulzaman
Adeeba
A
Liam
Chong-Kin
CK
Lee
Toong-Chow
TC
D003428:Cross Infection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014374:Tuberculin Test / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D000078329:Workforce