Cent Eur J Public Health 2015, 23(4):324-330 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a4101

Assessing the Prevalence of Latent Tuberculosis among Health Care Providers in Zagazig City, Egypt Using Tuberculin Skin Test and QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube Test

Rehab H. El-Sokkary1, Ashwak M. Abu-Taleb1, Omnia S. El-Seifi2, Haidy E. Zidan3, Eman M. Mortada2, Dalia El-Hossary1, Salama E. Farag4
1 Medical Microbiology and Immunology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
2 Department of Community, Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
3 Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
4 Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt

Aim: Early detection of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) will prevent development of active TB among health care providers. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of LTBI among health care providers and compare the QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube Test (QFT-GIT) and Tuberculin skin test in efforts to detect LTBI and to investigate possible associated risk factors of infection.

Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out during the period of 6 months in the Chest Hospital in Zagazig city and the Nephrology Unit at Zagazig University Hospitals in 132 randomly selected health care providers who were examined for LTBI by QFT-GIT and Tuberculin skin test and for the associated risk factors as well.

Results: The prevalence of LTBI identified by QFT-GIT and by Tuberculin skin test was 28.8% and 59.1%, respectively. Poor agreement was observed between the two tests (kappa=0.10). Working more than 10 years, being nurse, diabetic and smoker were risk factors significantly associated with LTBI (p<0.05).

Conclusions: QFT-GIT is considered a useful tool in detecting LTBI cases, especially in a country where BCG vaccination is a national policy (as in Egypt). Duration of work, profession, diabetes and smoking are the risk factors for LTBI. Active surveillance and infection control measures are recommended to reduce the risk of LTBI.

Keywords: prevalence, tuberculosis, QuantiFERON, Tuberculin skin test, health care providers

Received: September 11, 2014; Revised: January 19, 2015; Accepted: January 19, 2015; Published: December 30, 2015  Show citation

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El-Sokkary RH, Abu-Taleb AM, El-Seifi OS, Zidan HE, Mortada EM, El-Hossary D, Farag SE. Assessing the Prevalence of Latent Tuberculosis among Health Care Providers in Zagazig City, Egypt Using Tuberculin Skin Test and QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube Test. Cent Eur J Public Health. 2015;23(4):324-330. doi: 10.21101/cejph.a4101. PubMed PMID: 26841146.
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