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Document ID (ISN)101720
CIS number 03-930
ISSN - Serial title 0271-3586 - American Journal of Industrial Medicine
Year 2002
Convention or series no.
Author(s) Miller A.K., Tepper A., Sieber K.
Title Historical risks of tuberculin skin test conversion among non-physician staff at a large urban hospital
Bibliographic information Sep. 2002, Vol.42, No.3, p.228-235. 33 ref.
Abstract Following cases of nosocomial transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis among workers at a 1000-bed urban hospital, an extensive evaluation was carried out of this risk among workers with potential exposure to tuberculosis patients or to contaminated biological samples. A retrospective cohort study was conducted to determine the incidence and risk of tuberculin skin test (TST) conversions among workers employed between 1 January 1990 and 30 September 1992. Personal, social and occupational risk factors were evaluated in 2,362 workers with potential exposure and 886 workers with no known exposure. The 33-month cumulative rate of TST conversion was 5.8% for potentially exposed workers and 2.0% for controls. Among workers with potential tuberculosis exposure, statistically significantly elevated risks were found for nurses, laboratory technicians, pharmacy workers, phlebotomists, housekeepers, clerks, emergency room workers and emergency responders.
Descriptors (primary) tuberculosis; hospitals; risk factors; biological hazards; health care personnel
Descriptors (secondary) laboratory work; case-control study; cohort study; emergency services; frequency rates; nursing personnel; skin tests; contamination; determination in biological matter; long-term study
Document type D - Periodical articles
Country / State or ProvinceUSA
Subject(s) Commerce, services, offices
Broad subject area(s) Biological hazards
Browse category(ies) Bacterial and parasitic diseases
Health care services
Biological hazards