European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is an air borne communicable disease caused by bacteria named Mycobacterium tuberculosis that is spread through the air from person to person. The TB bacteria are expelled in the air when a person with TB disease coughs, sneezes, speaks, or sings. People nearby may breathe in these bacteria and become infected. In most people who breathe in TB bacteria and become infected, the body is able to fight the bacteria to stop them from growing. If TB bacteria become active in the body and multiply, the person will progress from latent to active TB disease. Infection is most likely to occur when an individual is exposed to someone with TB disease on a day-to-day basis, such as by living or working in close quarters with someone who has the active disease.
Methodology: The descriptive longitudinal study was conducted among 600 HCWs at Jawahar lal Nehru medical college and Hospital, Bhagalpur. (oct 2018 to feb -2020). The data was collected by administering TB screening questionnaire (Annexure 2). Separate written informed consent was obtained for performing the tuberculin skin test (TST). Following this each study participant was administered the TST. Each subject was reviewed between 48 hours to 72 hours of the TST to read the reaction. All the subjects who gave negative TST reaction were followed up after one year.  
Conclusion: Prevalence of latent TB infection was 20.1% and it was significantly associated with age, place of residence, education, work commute time and mode of  transport. Incidence of latent TB infection was 19.4% and it was significantly associated with gender, place of residence education, work commute time and marital status. Study subjects working in laundry department, especially those who came in contact with patients while collecting linens, housekeeping workers and pharmacy workers who dispense drugs at the counter were at higher risk of developing TB infection.