Infection control and tuberculosis among health care workers in Viet Nam, 2009-2013: a cross-sectional survey.
Data on tuberculosis (TB) among health care workers (HCW) and TB infection control (TBIC) indicators are rarely available at national level. We assessed multi-year trends in notification data of TB among HCW and explored possible associations with TBIC indicators.



Notified TB incidence among HCW and 3 other TBIC indicators were collected annually from all 64 provincial and 3 national TB facilities in Vietnam. Time trends in TB notification between 2009 and 2013 were assessed using linear regression analysis. Multivariate regression models were applied to assess associations between the facility-specific 5-year notification rate and TBIC indicators.



Forty-seven (70 %) of 67 facilities contributed data annually over five years; 15 reported at least one HCW with TB in 2009 compared to six in 2013. The TB notification rate dropped from 593 to 197 per 100,000 HCW (ptrend= 0.02). Among 104 TB cases reported, 30 were employed at TB wards, 24 at other clinical wards, ten in the microbiology laboratory, six at the MDR-TB ward, and 34 in other positions. The proportion of facilities with a TBIC plan and focal person remained relatively stable between 70 % and 84 %. The proportion of facilities providing personal protective equipment (PPE) to their staff increased over time. Facilities with a TBIC focal person were 7.6 times more likely to report any TB cases than facilities without a focal person.



The TB notification rates among HCW seemed to decrease over time. Availability of PPE increased over the same period. Appointing a TBIC focal person was associated with reporting of TB cases among HCW. It remains unclear whether TBIC measures helped in reduction of the TB notification rates in HCW.
KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation, Benoordenhoutseweg 46, 2596 BC, The Hague, The Netherlands. edine.tiemersma@kncvtbc.org.
Edine W
EW
Tiemersma
KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation Vietnam Country Office, 130 Mai Anh Tuan Street, Hanoi, Vietnam.
Nguyen Thien
NT
Huong
National Tuberculosis Control Program of Vietnam, 463 Hoang Hoa Tham, Hanoi, Vietnam.
Pham Hoang
PH
Yen
KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation Vietnam Country Office, 130 Mai Anh Tuan Street, Hanoi, Vietnam.
Bui Thi
BT
Tinh
National Tuberculosis Control Program of Vietnam, 463 Hoang Hoa Tham, Hanoi, Vietnam.
Tran Thi Bich
TT
Thuy
National Tuberculosis Control Program of Vietnam, 463 Hoang Hoa Tham, Hanoi, Vietnam.
Nguyen
N
Van Hung
Pham Ngoc Thach Hospital, 120 Hong Bang, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Nguyen Thanh
NT
Mai
KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation, Benoordenhoutseweg 46, 2596 BC, The Hague, The Netherlands.
Suzanne
S
Verver
KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation, Benoordenhoutseweg 46, 2596 BC, The Hague, The Netherlands.
Agnes
A
Gebhard
National Tuberculosis Control Program of Vietnam, 463 Hoang Hoa Tham, Hanoi, Vietnam.
Nguyen Viet
NV
Nhung
D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018088:Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant / Q000453:epidemiology; D014744:Vietnam / Q000453:epidemiology
Health care workers; Infection control; Questionnaire; Tuberculosis; Viet Nam