Tuberculosis infection in U.S. Air Force dentists

Abstract

Purpose: To determine if U.S. Air Force dentists have a significantly higher prevalence of infection from M. tuberculosis than a similar no-dentist group.

Materials and methods: A written survey instrument was sent to all active duty Air Force dentists and lawyers. The survey asked individuals to voluntarily and anonymously give information regarding positive tuberculin skin testing which was subsequently treated with antituberculosis medication. Only positive responses which occurred during the time the respondent was practicing as a dentist or lawyer in the Air Force were counted. Significant exposures were considered to have occurred in those persons who were evaluated by a physician and actually put on a course of antituberculosis medication.

Results: The dentists returned 82.7% of the 1256 surveys sent, of which 2.37% indicated a significant exposure. The lawyers returned 79.6% of 1321 surveys, of which 1.47% were positive for significant exposure. Chi-square analysis indicated no significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.14).