title: Prevalence and predictors of latent tuberculosis infection among Italian State Policemen engaged in assistance to migrants: a national cross-sectional study.
abstract: Better knowledge about tuberculosis (TB) and latent TB infection (LTBI) epidemiology is a crucial step for the development of effective strategies towards the control and elimination of this deadliest and persistent health threat. No study has investigated LTBI epidemiology in policemen who act as an interface with cross-border migrants.
  
  
  
  A survey to measure the LTBI prevalence and assess the demographic, professional and clinical features potentially associated with tuberculin skin test (TST) positivity was performed in Italian State Police (ISP) employees engaged, even occasionally, in relief activities, hospitality, photographical identification, escorting and accompanying of migrants, regardless of contact with active TB cases. Variables potentially associated with TST positivity were evaluated with univariate and multivariate analysis.
  
  
  
  From September to December 2014, 4225 ISP workers underwent TST screening and completed the questionnaire for data collection, according to study procedures. The TST was positive in 9.9% of individuals: no active TB cases were registered among the entire study population. Age, previous BCG vaccination and work category resulted independently associated with TST positivity.
  
  
  
  This is the first study providing updated data about LTBI epidemiology among ISP employees engaged in assistance to migrants and furnish preliminary evidence of possible associations between TST positivity and different conditions that need to be deeply investigated with prospective studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Durando
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy State Police Health Service Department, Ministry of Interior, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Garbarino
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2433-9610
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Orsi
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristiano
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6473-9870
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alicino
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Guglielmo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dini
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Toletone
authors.affiliation: State Police Health Service Department, Ministry of Interior, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ciprani
authors.affiliation: State Police Health Service Department, Ministry of Interior, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Conte
authors.affiliation: State Police Health Service Department, Ministry of Interior, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Santorsa
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Icardi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002353:Carrier State; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006379:Helping Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D055985:Latent Tuberculosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016495:Police; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014171:Transients and Migrants; D014374:Tuberculin Test
keywords: Latent tuberculosis infection; Occupational risk; Policemen; Tuberculin Skin Test