RISK FACTORS FOR LATENT TUBERCULOSIS INFECTION AMONG HEALTH-CARE WORKERS IN NORTHEASTERN THAILAND

Health-care workers (HCWs) are a high-risk population for acquiring Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Understanding the risk factors for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) could provide information to facilitate an appropriate tuberculosis (TB) control program. We aimed to determine the prevalence of, and risk factors for LTBI among HCWs in northeastern Thailand. Between 1 November 2013 and 30 September 2015, we examined 112 HCWs at Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen Province in northeastern Thailand using the QuantiFERON (R)-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT) assay. Twenty-one [18.8%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 11.526.0%] HCWs had a positive QFT result all of whom were determined to have LTBI. The exposure risks and demographic data obtained from a questionnaire were compared between the 21 subjects who had a positive QFT assay and the 91 subjects who had a negative QFT assay. Multivariate analysis showed factors significantly associated with a positive QFT assay were: age >= 30 years (OR=18.88; 95%CI: 1.52-234.36), having worked as a nurse (OR=2.78; 95%CI: 1.19-6.49), having been employed at that job for >= 10 years (OR=8.78; 95%CI: 1.26-61.29) and having been exposed to known TB patients (OR=13.32: 95% CI: 1.61-110.04). Appropriate guidelines need to be developed, especially for these at-risk workers to prevent LTBI. These high-risk workers should also be considered for regular TB screening.