title: [Latent tuberculosis infection: prevalence amongst healthcare students at the Sapienza University of Rome (Italy)].
abstract: Healthcare workers, including medical, dentistry and nursing students, have an increased risk of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. In this study the prevalence of tuberculin skin test (TST) positivity (defined as induration ≥ 5 mm) among healthcare students enrolled at the Sapienza University of Rome (Italy) in the years 2011-2012 was evaluated. Overall, 2,519 students with a mean age of 20.6 years were tested, of whom 62.4% were female, 0.4% were vaccinated with BCG and 4.6% were foreign-born. Eighty-two students (3.3%) were found to have a positive TST. Prevalence varied by age and geographical place of birth. A baseline evaluation of medical and other healthcare students' TST status at the beginning of their training is essential to better implement infection and control measures for tuberculosis infection.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica e Malattie Infettive, Sapienza Università di Roma; Centro di Medicina Occupazionale, Sapienza Università di Roma.
authors.forename: Sabina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sernia
authors.affiliation: Centro di Medicina Occupazionale, Sapienza Università di Roma.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ortis
authors.affiliation: Centro di Medicina Occupazionale, Sapienza Università di Roma.
authors.forename: Tranquillo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Antoniozzi
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica e Malattie Infettive, Sapienza Università di Roma.
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Palazzo
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica e Malattie Infettive, Sapienza Università di Roma.
authors.forename: Vittoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Colamesta
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica e Malattie Infettive, Sapienza Università di Roma.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: D'Aguanno
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica e Malattie Infettive, Sapienza Università di Roma.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Renzini
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica e Malattie Infettive, Sapienza Università di Roma; Fondazione Eleonora Lorillard Spencer Cenci.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: La Torre