title: Prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection and associated risk factors among 1557 nursing students in a context of low endemicity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The risk of tuberculosis (TBC) in nurses is related to its incidence in the general population. Nursing students involved in clinical training could be exposed to occupational risks similar to those of healthcare workers (HCWs). To better understand the epidemiology of nosocomial TBC among nurses in a context of low endemicity, we recruited a cohort of young nursing trainees at the Second University of Naples.
  
  
  METHODS
  A screening programme for LTBI in nursing students was conducted between January 2012 and December 2013, at the Second University of Naples, with clinical evaluations, tuberculin skin test (TST) and, in positive TST student, the interferon-g release assays (IGRA). Putative risk factors for LTBI were assessed by a standardized questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  1577 nursing students attending the Second University of Naples have been submitted to screening programme for TBC. 1575 have performed TST as first level test and 2 Quantiferon test (QFT). 19 students were TST positive and continued the diagnostic workup practicing QFT, that was positive in 1 student. Of the 2 subjects that have practiced QFT as first level test only 1 was positive. In 2 students positive to QFT test we formulated the diagnosis of LTBI by clinical and radiographic results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of LTBI among nursing students in our study resulted very low. In countries with a low incidence of TBC, the screening programs of healthcare students can be useful for the early identification and treatment of the sporadic cases of LTBI.
authors: Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Hygiene, Occupational Medicine and Forensic Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors: Monica
authors: M
authors: Lamberti
authors: Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Hygiene, Occupational Medicine and Forensic Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors: Rossella
authors: R
authors: Uccello
authors: Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Hygiene, Occupational Medicine and Forensic Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors: Maria Grazia Lourdes
authors: MG
authors: Monaco
authors: Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Hygiene, Occupational Medicine and Forensic Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors: Mariarosaria
authors: M
authors: Muoio
authors: Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Hygiene, Occupational Medicine and Forensic Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors: Nicola
authors: N
authors: Sannolo
authors: Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Hygiene, Occupational Medicine and Forensic Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors: Paola
authors: P
authors: Arena
authors: Department of Cardio-Thoracic and Respiratory Science, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors: Gennaro
authors: G
authors: Mazzarella
authors: Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Hygiene, Occupational Medicine and Forensic Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Arnese
authors: Department of Cardio-Thoracic and Respiratory Science, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: La Cerra
keywords: Health surveillance; nursing students; occupational exposure; quantiferon; tuberculin skin testing; tuberculosis