title: Five-year prospective study of tuberculin skin testing among new healthcare personnel at a university hospital in Thailand.
abstract: We determined the prevalence of a positive tuberculin skin test (TST) and the incidence of TST conversion among new healthcare personnel (HCP) in a hospital in Thailand. During 2005-2008, TST was performed on 1438 HCP and the prevalence of positive TST was 66.3%. Age, male gender, and the presence of Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) scar were associated with odds of positive TST (all P < 0.05). The incidence of TST conversion was 4.8 per 100 HCP-years. Nine (0.6%) HCP were diagnosed with active tuberculosis. The annual surveillance programme is important for the early diagnosis and prevention of tuberculosis among HCP in Thailand.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kiertiburanakul
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suebsing
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kehachindawat
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Apivanich
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Somsakul
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sathapatayavongs
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Malathum
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D014374:Tuberculin Test; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D001500:BCG Vaccine