Risk of latent tuberculosis infection among healthcare workers in Italy: a retrospective study with Quantiferon Test

Luca Coppeta; Cristiana Ferrari; Mariacarmela Ferraro; Savino Baldi; Stefania Grande; Ludovico Maria DE Zordo; Pier Francesco Mattone; Maria Teresa Doddato; Ottavia Balbi; Andrea Magrini; Antonio Pietroiusti; Piergiorgio Lieto

doi:10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2021.62.3.1471

Risk of latent tuberculosis infection among healthcare workers in Italy: a retrospective study with Quantiferon Test

J Prev Med Hyg. 2021 Sep 15;62(3):E759-E762. doi: 10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2021.62.3.1471. eCollection 2021 Sep.

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.
² Department of Occupational Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.
³ Department of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.
⁴ Department of Anaesthesia, Intensive Care and Pain Management, University of Rome "Campus Bio-Medico", Rome, Italy.

PMID: 34909505
PMCID: PMC8639116
DOI: 10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2021.62.3.1471

Abstract

Objective: The latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is a state of persistent immune response to stimulation by Mycobacterium Tuberculosis antigens without clinical manifestation: the healthcare workers (HCWs) have a higher exposure risk so prevention is an important challenge for occupational medicine. The aim of our study is to evaluate the prevalence of LTBI among HCWs of the Foundation Policlinic "Tor Vergata".

Methods: This is a retrospective study conducted by analyzing the clinical records of 825 HCWs of the PTV, from January 1st to December 31th 2016. To evaluate the TB infection we used the Quantiferon TB Gold interferon-gamma release assay.

Results: Our study underlines the low prevalence of LTBI in the Italian healthcare workers.

Conclusion: Although the LTBI status is not contagious, the diagnosis and the safety strategies require specific clinical and preventive considerations.

Keywords: Contact screening; Latent tuberculosis; Occupational health; Quantiferon.

MeSH terms

Health Personnel
Humans
Interferon-gamma Release Tests
Latent Tuberculosis* / diagnosis
Latent Tuberculosis* / epidemiology
Retrospective Studies
Tuberculin Test