Prevalence of Latent Tuberculosis Infection among Health Workers in Afghanistan: A Cross-sectional Study
Prevalence of Latent Tuberculosis Infection among Health Workers in Afghanistan: A Cross-sectional Study
By: Ghulam Qader Qader, Mohammad Khaled Seddiq, Khakerah Mohammad Rashidi, Lutfullah Manzoor, Azizullah Hamim, Mir Habibullah Akhgar, Laiqullrahman Rahman, Sean Dryer, Mariah Boyd-Boffa, Aleefia Somji, Muluken Melese, Pedro Guillermo Suarez.
Publication: PLoS One; 1 Jun 2021; 16(6):e0252307. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0252307
Abstract
About 26% of the world’s population may have latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). Health care workers are a high-risk category because of their professional exposure. This cross-sectional study assessed the LTBI burden among health care workers in Afghanistan, a high-TB-burden country. The authors selected health facilities using a systematic sampling technique and invited all workers at the targeted health facilities to participate. Participants were interviewed about sociodemographic and exposure variables and received tuberculin skin tests for LTBI.
Results: Of the 4,648 health care workers invited to participate, 3,686 had tuberculin skin tests. The prevalence of LTBI was found to be 47.2% (1,738 workers). Multivariate analysis showed that a body mass index of ≥ 30 and marriage were associated with an increased risk of LTBI. Underweight (body mass index of ≤ 18 and below) and normal body mass index had no association with increased risk of LTBI.
Conclusion: LTBI is high among health care workers in Afghanistan. The authors recommend instituting infection control measures in health facilities and screening workers for timely TB diagnosis.