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Occupational Health 2018 Journal of Nursing and Health Studies
ISSN: 2574-2825 Page 20
May 28-29, 2018
London, UK
4th Edition of International Conference on
Occupational Health and
Safety
Introduction: Healthcare workers (HCWs) in Germany - a low
incidence country - with contact to patients with tuberculosis
(TB) are considered a high-risk group for latent TB infection
(LTBI) and therefore are screened for TB. The German
Occupational TB Network data is analyzed in order to estimate
the prevalence of LTBI and to evaluate risk factors for LTBI.
Methods: The TB Network comprises 5,474 HCWs who were
screened for LTBI with an Interferon Gamma Release Assay
(IGRA). HCWs with a positive IGRA result were x rayed in order
to exclude active TB. Risk factors for LTBI were assessed by
a standardized questionnaire. Adjusted odds ratios (OR) were
calculated by logistic regression using SPSS. In addition a
head-to-head comparison of the Quantiferon Gold in tube and
the Quantiferon Plus was performed in 134 students from high
TB burden countries. In either of the two IGRA positive were
9.8%. Discordant results were observed in three participants
with results very close to the cut-off. Agreement between the
two IGRA was high (k=0.85).
Results: IGRA was positive in 393 HCWs (7.2%). Prevalence of
LTBI increased with age. (OR for age >55 years 4.8; 95% CI 2.8-
7.0), TB in history (OR 6.9; 95% CI 3.7-13.5), migration from a
high incidence country (OR 2.2; 95% CI 1.7-2.8) and working on
an infection ward (OR 1.9; 95% CI 1.1-3.3) or in geriatric care
(OR 1.7; 95% CI 1.0-2.9). No active TB was diagnosed.
Conclusion: Even though screening was performed in HCWs
with contact to TB patients only, work related risk factors for
LTBI were identified. The new version of the Quantiferon agrees
well with the earlier version.
Biography
He was the Research Associate of the Professional Association for health
service and welfare (BGW). Since 2010 he is Professor at the University
Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf (UKE). He is also Specialist in occupa-
tional medicine, epidemiologist.
Latent tuberculosis infection in German healthcare workers
Albert Nienhaus and Anja Schablon
University Clinics Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany
Albert Nienhaus et al., J Nurs Health Stud 2018, Volume 3
DOI: 10.21767/2574-2825-C2-005