Latent tuberculosis infection in healthcare workers at a community hospital in Qatar.
Routine screening of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is recommended as an essential component in the prevention of TB transmission in healthcare facilities.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of LTBI among healthcare workers (HCWs) in a community hospital.


METHODS
A descriptive study was carried out at The Cuban Hospital from August 2012 to May 2013 for newly hired medical staff. As part of the preemployment evaluation, the tuberculin skin test (TST) and QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube test (QFT-G) were performed. The information regarding the demographics, profile, experience as HCWs, any previous contact with TB patients and travels abroad were collected.


METHODS
Test of independence, Student's t test and Wilcoxon Mann-Whitney were used. For hypothesis testing, a significance level of 0.05 was adopted.


RESULTS
TST results were positive in 14 subjects (6.9%), of which 11 were nurses, and 12 were females. QFT-G results were positive in six subjects (3.0%), who were older than those with negative results (44.5 vs. 38.9 years) and had more experience as HCW (21.7 vs. 16.8 years). Compared with subjects negative for QFT-G, positive subjects reported a higher frequency of both direct contact with tuberculosis patients (83.3% vs. 25%) and previous travels to countries with high TB incidence.


CONCLUSIONS
Incidence of LTBI was low, especially when QFT-G results were considered, highlighting the history of traveling to countries with high TB incidence as an associated key factor.
The Cuban Hospital, Hamad Medical Corporation, PO Box 27555, Dukham, Qatar. Electronic address: humbertoguanchegarcell@yahoo.es.
Humberto
H
Guanche Garcell
The Cuban Hospital, Hamad Medical Corporation, PO Box 27555, Dukham, Qatar. Electronic address: ecresporam@yahoo.com.
Eduardo
E
Crespo Ramirez
The Cuban Hospital, Hamad Medical Corporation, PO Box 27555, Dukham, Qatar. Electronic address: arico2505@yahoo.es.
Ariatna
A
Kindelan Contreras
National Institute of Nephrology, La Habana, Cuba. Electronic address: fcogutierrez@infomed.sld.cu.
Francisco
F
Gutierrez Garcia
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006764:Hospitals, Community; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D059425:Interferon-gamma Release Tests; D055985:Latent Tuberculosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011780:Qatar / Q000453:epidemiology; D014195:Travel; D014374:Tuberculin Test
Cuba; Latent tuberculosis; Mantoux test; QuantiFERON-TB Gold