title: [BASELINE SCREENING USING INTERFERON-GAMMA RELEASE ASSAY SUGGESTS AN INCREASED RISK OF MYCOBACTERIUM TUBERCULOSIS INFECTION AMONG EMPLOYEES IN A JAPANESE GENERAL HOSPITAL].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This retrospective study aimed to assess the risk of tuberculosis infection for the employees of a Japanese hospital using baseline interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA). The risk was defined as exposure to the hospital environment.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 870 hospital employees including 161 new employees, 582 for baseline assay, and 127 for contact examination (709 subjects in the post-employment group) were examined from December 2010 to April 2012. The new employees were considered as the "non-exposure" group, whereas the post-employment group was considered as the "exposure" group. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to calculate the odds ratio (OR) for IGRA positivity, adjusted for gender, smoking history, and alcohol intake (model 1), and for years of employment (model 2).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The exposure group was significantly associated with an increased risk of positive IGRA results, even when adjusted for years of employment (OR: 4.1; 95% confidence interval: 1.4-17.6; P = 0.007). Subgroup analyses stratified by profession indicated a significantly increased OR for laboratory technicians, doctors, and nurses in both models. No correlation was observed between the length of employment and IGRA positivity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exposure to the hospital environment increased the risk of tuberculosis infection for employees irrespective of the length of employment. Laboratory technicians, doctors, and nurses were at the highest risk of infection.
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: Takanao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.forename: Takao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hitomi
authors.forename: Masahito
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ebina
authors.forename: Juichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fujimori
authors.forename: Yuri
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ami
authors.forename: Sachiko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hayakawa
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fujimura
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D059425:Interferon-gamma Release Tests; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D012307:Risk Factors; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult