Background: All health care facilities should intensify TB screening and encourage treatment of
latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) among Healthcare workers (HCWs) to prevent progression to
tuberculosis (TB) disease.
Aim: This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of LTBI
among HCWs in Al Quwayiyah General hospital as well as to compare the performance of
QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus (QFT-Plus) to TST in identifying LTBI.
Methods: A cross sectional study and prospective cohort study was performed from January to July
2019 in Al Quwayiyah General hospital involving a total of 718 HCWs. questionnaire with socio-
Original Research Article
Khater and Abdo; MRJI, 29(6): 1-11, 2019; Article no.MRJI.53796
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demographic data and work history was filled, and both tests were done TST and QFT test for each
Healthcare worker.
Results: The study showed that The prevalence of latent tuberculosis diagnosed was 9.05% and
9.19% using QFT-Plus and TST respectively. Only 26 (3.62%) subjects were positive for both tests
whereas 131 (18.25%) were positive by either test. Comparing the results of the QFT-Plus with
those of the TST, both tests had a significant total agreement of 88.8. Negative concordance
comprised 85.37% of the results, and positive concordance comprised 3.62%. However, positive
TST but negative QFT-Plus comprised 5.57% of the results, and negative TST but positive QFTPlus
comprised 5.43%. The association between risk factors and QFT-Plus test results in the
studied groups showed that the smoking, health status, immunosuppresion, housing, occupation,
contact T.B. at work place, past history of TB and diabetes mellitus appear as significant risk factors.
The association between the studied risk factors and TST in the studied groups showed significant
difference noted for smoking, BCG vaccination, immunosuppresion, housing, occupation, contact
T.B. at work place, past history of TB and diabetes mellitus.
Conclusion: The prevalence of latent tuberculosis diagnosed was 9.05% and 9.19% using QFTPlus
and TST respectively. Testing of HCWs at hire and periodically can help in the detection of
LTBI Large scale study is recommended to confirm such findings in Saudi Arabia, also the use of
Quantiferon for detection of LTBI beside using TST is recommended as it reduce the false positive
reports by TST and is not affected by prior BCG status. |
