2007 Volume 82 Issue 9 Pages 697-703
[Purpose] To analyze conditions of developing TB among nurses and to discuss preventive measures.
[Methods] TB patient cards of nurs es and other health workers registered in Osaka City from 1999 to 2003 were studied.
[Results] Incidence rate of TB among female nurse/assistant-nurse was 3.0 times higher than that of all female population. The route of case finding were as follows with descending order, visit to medical facilities with symptoms (55.8%), regular health check (35.8%), individu al health check (5.8%), and contact examination (2.5%). Among risk factors related to the development of TB work in hospitals account for 55.0% in nurse patients of all ages, 72.5% in 20s, 47.4% in 30s, 37.5% in 40s, 36.4% in 50s and 0% in 60s. Individual risk factors were identified as follows in descending order, “TB patients diagnosed in the hospital. ” (10.0%), “examined at TB contact examination. ” (9.2%), “history of TB treatment at 18 years of age and over” (7.5%), “working experience in TB hospital/TB ward. ” (6.7%), “TB patients diagnosed among colleague.” (5.0%), “increased reaction of tuberculin skin test after employment. ” (2.5%), “diagnosis of 'healed TB lesion' at regular health check. ” (1.7%), “default of chemoprophylaxis” (1.7%). Among various risk factors, “examined at TB contact examination” and “TB p atients diagnosed in the hospital” are the two most common factors and occupied 38.8% in patients in 20s.
[Discussion] Therefore it is imp ortant to promote further nosocomial TB infection control with a view to lower incidence rate of TB among nurses, which is 3 times higher than that of all female population.
