title: Latent tuberculosis infection and occupational protection among health care workers in two types of public hospitals in China.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the impact factors of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) and the knowledge of TB prevention and treatment policy among health care workers (HCWs) in different types of hospitals and explore the strategies for improving TB prevention and control in medical institutions in China.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was carried out to evaluate the risk of TB infection and personnel occupational protection among HCWs who directly engage in medical duties in one of two public hospitals. Each potential participant completed a structured questionnaire and performed a tuberculin skin test (TST). Factors associated with LTBI were identified by logistic regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven hundred twelve HCWs completed questionnaires and 74.3% (n = 529) took the TST or had previous positive results. The TST-positive prevalence was 58.0% (n = 127) in the infectious disease hospital and 33.9% (n = 105) in the non-TB hospital. The duration of employment in the healthcare profession (6-10 years vs. ≤5 years [OR = 1.89; 95% CI = 1.10, 3.25] and >10 vs. ≤5 [OR = 1.80; 95% CI = 1.20, 2.68]), type of hospital (OR = 2.40; 95% CI = 1.59, 3.62), and ever-employment in a HIV clinic or ward (OR = 1.87; 95% CI = 1.08, 3.26) were significantly associated with LTBI. The main reasons for an unwillingness to accept TST were previous positive TST results (70.2%) and concerns about skin reaction (31.9%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A high prevalence of TB infections was observed among HCWs working in high-risk settings and with long professional experiences in Henan Province in China. Comprehensive guidelines should be developed for different types of medical institutions to reduce TB transmission and ensure the health of HCWs.
authors.affiliation: Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China; Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing Research Center of Preventive Medicine, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing Research Center of Preventive Medicine, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: MOH Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Zhengzhou Central Hospital, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yibin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.affiliation: Henan Provincial Infectious Disease Hospital, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xianli
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Henan Provincial Infectious Disease Hospital, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jianmin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: MOH Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xiangwei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: MOH Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Junguo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing Research Center of Preventive Medicine, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Deng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006779:Hospitals, Public; D006801:Humans; D055985:Latent Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D014374:Tuberculin Test