Document Detail


Tuberculosis in National Health Service hospital staff in the west Midlands region of England, 1992-5.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  9487349     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
BACKGROUND: This study was designed to assess the current incidence of tuberculosis (TB) in National Health Service hospital staff in the West Midlands region of England and to evaluate the effectiveness of occupational health screening and surveillance procedures. METHODS: A four year prospective study (1992-5) was carried out with case ascertainment through occupational health departments and the Midlands Thoracic Society registry of rare respiratory diseases. RESULTS: No case was known to an occupational health department that was not notified by the registry and, in addition, the registry yielded a further six cases. There were 26 cases of active TB, of which 24 presented with symptoms and 12 had no pre-employment screening. All except one doctor were foreign born--mainly from the Indian subcontinent (ISC)--and of recent UK entry, whilst all except one nurse were white females. The following are annual TB incidences per 10(4) (95% confidence interval): ISC and non-white doctors 17.0 (7.8 to 26.2), not significantly greater than in the local ISC and non-white social class 1 working age population (11.8 (8.5 to 15.1)); white nurses 0.6 (0.2 to 1.0), significantly greater (p < 0.05) than that of white women in the local social class 2 working age population (0.2 (0.1 to 0.3)); others (mortuary attendant, physiotherapist, radiographer and theatre technician) 1.0 (0.02 to 2.0), not significantly greater than in the local social class 2 working age population (0.6 (0.5 to 0.7)). CONCLUSIONS: Case ascertainment via the registry was complete. Most cases of TB were in nurses and doctors, more commonly in doctors. However, all but one of the doctors were foreign born and probably had reactivation of infection acquired abroad rather than infection occupationally acquired in the UK. All but one of the nurses, however, were UK born and may have had occupationally acquired disease, their incidence being higher than in the community. As most cases present with symptoms, there needs to be continued emphasis on prompt reporting of suspicious symptoms both before and during employment, and pre-employment BCG vaccination where appropriate.
Authors:
A Hill; A Burge; C Skinner
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Thorax     Volume:  52     ISSN:  0040-6376     ISO Abbreviation:  Thorax     Publication Date:  1997 Nov 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  1998-03-06     Completed Date:  1998-03-06     Revised Date:  2009-11-18    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0417353     Medline TA:  Thorax     Country:  ENGLAND    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  994-7     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, UK.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adult
England / epidemiology
Female
Humans
Incidence
Male
Mass Screening
Medical Staff, Hospital / statistics & numerical data*
Middle Aged
Nursing Staff, Hospital / statistics & numerical data*
Occupational Diseases / epidemiology*
Occupational Health Services
Prospective Studies
Registries
Tuberculosis / epidemiology*,  prevention & control
Comments/Corrections

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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