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. 2021 Jun 1;16(6):e0252307.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0252307. eCollection 2021.

Prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection among health workers in Afghanistan: A cross-sectional study

Ghulam Qader Qader  1 , Mohammad Khaled Seddiq  2 , Khakerah Mohammad Rashidi  1 , Lutfullah Manzoor  2 , Azizullah Hamim  1 , Mir Habibullah Akhgar  2 , Laiqullrahman Rahman  2 , Sean Dryer  3 , Mariah Boyd-Boffa  4 , Aleefia Somji  3 , Muluken Melese  3 , Pedro Guillermo Suarez  3
Affiliations

Prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection among health workers in Afghanistan: A cross-sectional study

Ghulam Qader Qader et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Background: About 26% of the world's population may have latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). Health care workers are a high-risk category because of their professional exposure.

Methods: This cross-sectional study assessed the LTBI burden among health care workers in Afghanistan, a high-TB-burden country. We selected health facilities using a systematic sampling technique and invited all workers at the targeted health facilities to participate. Participants were interviewed about sociodemographic and exposure variables and received tuberculin skin tests for LTBI.

Results: Of the 4,648 health care workers invited to participate, 3,686 had tuberculin skin tests. The prevalence of LTBI was found to be 47.2% (1,738 workers). Multivariate analysis showed that a body mass index of ≥ 30 and marriage were associated with an increased risk of LTBI. Underweight (body mass index of ≤ 18 and below) and normal body mass index had no association with increased risk of LTBI.

Conclusion: LTBI is high among health care workers in Afghanistan. We recommend instituting infection control measures in health facilities and screening workers for timely TB diagnosis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Flow chart showing health care workers who participated in the LTBI study in Afghanistan.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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