Researchers from the Wits Reproductive and HIV Research Unit, Aurum Institute and others have called for an urgent response to high levels of tuberculosis (TB) infection in South African health workers.
Health-e reports that a study, aimed to evaluate the incidence of latent TB infection and risk factors for infection among 199 Johannesburg health workers, has found a high incidence of latent TB infection among the medical students, nurses, counsellors and doctors surveyed.
The study also found that medical students reported more TB knowledge than professional health care workers interviewed. About two-thirds of the sample had received TB infection control training but less than half practiced it at work. Only about a quarter of participants were able to list one appropriate infection control measure. TB knowledge and TB infection control training and practice were associated with a 50%–60% reduction in risk of TB infection.
In light of past studies that attributed about 80% of TB infections among South African health workers to occupational exposure, the study authors advocate for annual screening and improved adherence to TB infection control guidelines in South African health facilities.
[link url="http://www.health-e.org.za/2015/05/22/study-high-incidence-of-latent-tb-infection-among-south-african-health-workers/"]Full Health-e report[/link]
[link url="http://www.ingentaconnect.com/search/article?option1=title&value1=High+incidence+of+latent+tuberculous+infection+among+South+African+health+workers%3a+an+urgent+call+for+action&sortDescending=true&sortField=prism_publicationDate&pageSize=10&index=1"]International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease abstract[/link]