Risk of Occupational Latent Tuberculosis Infection among Health Personnel Measured by Interferon-Gamma Release Assays in Low Incidence Countries-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Healthcare workers (HCWs) have increased risk for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) and tuberculosis (TB) disease due to their occupational exposure. For some years now, interferon-γ release assays (IGRAs) have replaced the tuberculin skin test for the diagnosis of LTBI in many countries. This re...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of environmental research and public health 2020-01, Vol.17 (2), p.581
Main Authors: Peters, Claudia, Kozak, Agnessa, Nienhaus, Albert, Schablon, Anja
Format: Article
Language:English
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Review
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Summary:Healthcare workers (HCWs) have increased risk for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) and tuberculosis (TB) disease due to their occupational exposure. For some years now, interferon-γ release assays (IGRAs) have replaced the tuberculin skin test for the diagnosis of LTBI in many countries. This review examined the occupational risk of LTBI in HCWs with IGRA testing in low incidence countries. A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies from 2005 onwards provide data regarding the prevalence of LTBI in HCWs. In addition, the pooled effect estimates were calculated for individual regions and occupational groups. 57 studies with 31,431 HCWs from four regions and a total of 25 countries were analysed. The prevalence of LTBI varied from 0.9 to 85.5%. The pooled estimation found the lowest prevalence of LTBI for North American and West Pacific countries (
ISSN:1660-4601
1661-7827
1660-4601
DOI:10.3390/ijerph17020581