title: Risk factors associated with tuberculosis infection among health care workers in Inner Mongolia, China.
abstract: METHODS
  Health care workers (HCWs) are at increased risk for tuberculosis (TB) infection. In China, surveys examining TB infection among HCWs have not studied general health care facilities, compared tuberculin tests conducted using local protocols against an internationally accepted  test or characterised risk factors.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To measure the prevalence of and risk factors for TB infection among HCWs in Inner Mongolia, China.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between April and August 2010, we administered QuantiFERON®-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) tests, skin tests using Chinese tuberculin  (TST) and surveys among HCWs at an infectious diseases hospital and a general medical hospital. We assessed whether demographic characteristics, personal exposure and work exposure were associated with QFT-GIT and TST positivity, and assessed agreement between test results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of  999 HCWs, 683 (68%) were QFT-GIT-positive, which was associated with greater age, longer HCW career, TB disease in a co-worker and greater daily patient exposure using multivariable analysis. TST reactions ≥ 5 mm occurred in 69% of the HCWs; agreement between test results was low ( 0.22).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of TB infection among HCWs in Inner Mongolia is high; infection was associated with occupational exposure. Results from locally conducted TST are difficult to interpret. In China, TB infection control in health care facilities should be strengthened.
authors.affiliation: Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: G X
authors.initials: GX
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: L X
authors.initials: LX
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Chai
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Klena
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Y L
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: L P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Y Y
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Varma
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D059425:Interferon-gamma Release Tests / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014374:Tuberculin Test / Q000379:methods; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult