title: Prevalence and incidence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in nursing students in Vitória, Espírito Santo.
abstract: This prospective study evaluated the incidence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection among nursing students at the Federal University of Espírito Santo, using the purified protein derivative test. In parallel, we evaluated whether knowledge on tuberculosis transmission mechanisms had any impact on nursing students' attitudes in relation to the risk of tuberculosis infection. The incidence of tuberculin conversion was 10.5% per year (p=0.035, 95% CI = 3.63-17.43), whereas the expected conversion rate in the overall population in Brazil is 0.5% per year. These results indicate nursing students as a group at risk for TB infection. Among the risk factors studied only the use of NIOSH95 masks was associated with protection against infection (RR=0.2). Furthermore there was no statistical difference among students that PPD converted and those who remained negative regarding disease knowledge and the existence of adequate facilities for patient hospitalization. Our data reinforces the need for implementing special biosafety programs targeting this professional group.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, ES. emaciel@ndi.ufes.br
authors.forename: Ethel Leonor Noia
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Maciel
authors.forename: Maria Carmen
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Viana
authors.forename: Regina Célia Gomes
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Zeitoune
authors.forename: Ilce
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Geisa
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fregona
authors.forename: Reynaldo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dietze
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014374:Tuberculin Test; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission
chemical_list: D001500:BCG Vaccine