IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v18y2021i13p7053-d586865.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Latent Tuberculosis Infection among Health Workers in Germany—A Retrospective Study on Progression Risk and Use of Preventive Therapy

Author

Listed:
  • Nika Zielinski

    (Faculty 11, Human and Health Sciences, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany)

  • Johanna Stranzinger

    (Department of Occupational Medicine, Toxic Substances, Health Service Research, German Statuary Institution for Accident Insurance and Prevention for Health and Welfare Services (BGW), 22089 Hamburg, Germany)

  • Hajo Zeeb

    (Faculty 11, Human and Health Sciences, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany
    Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology—BIPS, 28359 Bremen, Germany)

  • Jan Felix Kersten

    (Competence Centre for Epidemiology and Health Services Research for Healthcare Professionals (CVcare), Institute for Health Services Research in Dermatology and Nursing (IVDP), University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), 20246 Hamburg, Germany)

  • Albert Nienhaus

    (Department of Occupational Medicine, Toxic Substances, Health Service Research, German Statuary Institution for Accident Insurance and Prevention for Health and Welfare Services (BGW), 22089 Hamburg, Germany
    Competence Centre for Epidemiology and Health Services Research for Healthcare Professionals (CVcare), Institute for Health Services Research in Dermatology and Nursing (IVDP), University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), 20246 Hamburg, Germany)

Abstract

Despite the decline in tuberculosis incidence (TB) in Germany, health workers (HW) are at greater risk of becoming infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis . To date, little is known about the risk of progression of latent tuberculosis infections (LTBI) and the use of Tuberculosis Preventive Therapy (TPT) among HW. Routine data from the German Statutory Institution for Accident Insurance and Prevention for Health and Welfare Services (BGW) were analysed and a retrospective survey was conducted. A self-administered questionnaire was sent to 1711 HW who had received recognition of an LTBI as an occupational disease between the years 2009 and 2018. The response rate was 42.3% after correcting for those with no actual address (20.4%). We included 575 HW in the data analysis of the retrospective survey. The cumulative incidence of progression, the incidence density and the associated 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were calculated. Three progressive cases were identified in the analysis of the routine data. In the survey cohort, three HW developed TB during the observation period of 5.4 years on average (standard deviation: 2.8 years; interquartile range: 5.0 years). The cumulative TB incidence was 0.52% in the survey group (95% CI: 0.14% to 1.65%). The incidence density was 0.97 cases per 1000 person years (95% CI: 0.25 to 3.10). One-third of the respondents underwent TPT. Significant differences were observed between age and activity groups in the use of TPT, but not between the genders, year of diagnosis or the reason for performing the screening. The data indicate that the risk of progression of an LTBI is low for HW. However, one-third of the HW had undergone TPT. Information about the expected progression risk is important so that it can be weighed against the risk of side effects of TPT.

Suggested Citation

  • Nika Zielinski & Johanna Stranzinger & Hajo Zeeb & Jan Felix Kersten & Albert Nienhaus, 2021. "Latent Tuberculosis Infection among Health Workers in Germany—A Retrospective Study on Progression Risk and Use of Preventive Therapy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-9, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:13:p:7053-:d:586865
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/13/7053/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/13/7053/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Albert Nienhaus, 2018. "Infections in Healthcare Workers in Germany—22-Year Time Trends," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-12, November.
    2. Albert Nienhaus & Rozita Hod, 2020. "COVID-19 among Health Workers in Germany and Malaysia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-10, July.
    3. Lisa Hermes & Jan Felix Kersten & Albert Nienhaus & Anja Schablon, 2020. "Risk Analysis of Latent Tuberculosis Infection among Health Workers Compared to Employees in Other Sectors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-10, June.
    4. Christofer Schröder & Albert Nienhaus, 2020. "Intervertebral Disc Disease of the Lumbar Spine in Health Personnel with Occupational Exposure to Patient Handling—A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-20, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Halim Ismail & Naiemy Reffin & Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh & Mohd Rohaizat Hassan, 2021. "Compliance of Healthcare Worker’s toward Tuberculosis Preventive Measures in Workplace: A Systematic Literature Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-21, October.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Albert Nienhaus & Johanna Stranzinger & Agnessa Kozak, 2023. "COVID-19 as an Occupational Disease—Temporal Trends in the Number and Severity of Claims in Germany," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-9, January.
    2. Albert Nienhaus, 2021. "COVID-19 among Health Workers in Germany—An Update," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-10, August.
    3. Mohd Fadhli Mohd Fauzi & Hanizah Mohd Yusoff & Rosnawati Muhamad Robat & Nur Adibah Mat Saruan & Khairil Idham Ismail & Ahmad Firdaus Mohd Haris, 2020. "Doctors’ Mental Health in the Midst of COVID-19 Pandemic: The Roles of Work Demands and Recovery Experiences," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-16, October.
    4. Mohamed Mekhemar & Sameh Attia & Christof Dörfer & Jonas Conrad, 2021. "Dental Nurses’ Mental Health in Germany: A Nationwide Survey during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-18, July.
    5. Jan Felix Kersten & Albert Nienhaus & Stephanie Schneider & Anja Schablon, 2020. "Tuberculosis among Health Workers—A Secondary Data Analysis of German Social Accident Insurance Data from 2002–2017," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-9, February.
    6. Mahmoud Al-shami & Rawad Abdulghafor & Abdulaziz Aborujilah & Abubakar Yagoub & Sherzod Turaev & Mohammed A. H. Ali, 2023. "COVID-19 Tracking Applications Acceptance among General Populace: An Overview in Malaysia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-13, February.
    7. Abdul Aziz Harith & Mohd Hafiz Ab Gani & Robin Griffiths & Azlihanis Abdul Hadi & Nor Aishah Abu Bakar & Julia Myers & Maznieda Mahjom & Rosnawati Muhamad Robat & Muhammad Zulfakhar Zubir, 2022. "Incidence, Prevalence, and Sources of COVID-19 Infection among Healthcare Workers in Hospitals in Malaysia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-13, September.
    8. Moussa Antar & Hansjoerg Ullerich & Andreas Zaruchas & Torsten Meier & Ricarda Diller & Ulrich Pannewick & Sameer A. Dhayat, 2024. "Long-Term Quality of Life after COVID-19 Infection: Cross-Sectional Study of Health Care Workers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(2), pages 1-17, February.
    9. Rebecca Malsam & Albert Nienhaus, 2021. "Occupational Infections among Dental Health Workers in Germany—14-Year Time Trends," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-17, September.
    10. Philipp Näther & Jan Felix Kersten & Ingmar Kaden & Kemal Irga & Albert Nienhaus, 2022. "Distribution Patterns of Degeneration of the Lumbar Spine in a Cohort of 200 Patients with an Indication for Lumbar MRI," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-14, March.
    11. Matteo Bolcato & Marco Trabucco Aurilio & Giulio Di Mizio & Andrea Piccioni & Alessandro Feola & Alessandro Bonsignore & Camilla Tettamanti & Rosagemma Ciliberti & Daniele Rodriguez & Anna Aprile, 2021. "The Difficult Balance between Ensuring the Right of Nursing Home Residents to Communication and Their Safety," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-11, March.
    12. Melanie Runge & Magdalene Krensel & Claudia Westermann & Dominik Bindl & Klaus Nagels & Matthias Augustin & Albert Nienhaus, 2020. "Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Direct-Acting Antiviral Agents for Occupational Hepatitis C Infections in Germany," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-16, January.
    13. Luca Coppeta & Giuseppina Somma & Savino Baldi & Elisabetta Tursi & Iacopo D’Alessandro & Andrea Torrente & Stefano Perrone & Antonio Pietroiusti, 2020. "Cost-Effectiveness of Annual Screening for Tuberculosis among Italian Healthcare Workers: A Retrospective Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-7, March.
    14. Albert Nienhaus & Rozita Hod, 2020. "COVID-19 among Health Workers in Germany and Malaysia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-10, July.
    15. Anita Gębska-Kuczerowska & Izabela Kucharska & Agnieszka Segiet-Święcicka & Marcin Kuczerowski & Robert Gajda, 2021. "Disposal of Waste from Tattoo and Beauty Parlors in Poland: A Survey-Based Analysis on Epidemiological Safety," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-9, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:13:p:7053-:d:586865. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.