Incidence and clinical characteristics of tuberculosis among healthcare personnel at Chiangrai Prachanukroh Hospital
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant public health issue in Thailand. Healthcare personnel are classified as a high-risk group due to occupational exposure to TB patients. Most previous studies have focused on latent TB infection, while data on TB disease among healthcare workers (HCWs) are still limited—particularly in large tertiary care hospitals under the Ministry of Public Health.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the incidence, clinical characteristics, and occupational roles of HCWs diagnosed with TB at Chiangrai Prachanukroh Hospital over an eight-year period.
METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among hospital staff diagnosed with TB between fiscal years 2017 and 2024. Data were retrieved from the medical records of the Occupational Health Department and analyzed using descriptive statistics.
RESULTS: A total of 62 TB cases were identified among hospital personnel during the 8-year period, with an incidence rate ranging from 166 to 408 per 100,000 population—higher than the national average. The median age was 42 years (interquartile range: 32–51 years), and 56.5% were female. Notably, 62.9% of cases were asymptomatic and detected via annual chest X-ray screening. Pulmonary TB was the most common type (79%), followed by extrapulmonary TB (16%) and combined pulmonary-extrapulmonary TB (5%). Microbiological confirmation was obtained in only 17.7% of cases. Two cases were identified as multidrug-resistant TB. The most affected groups were nurses and nurse assistants, primarily working in internal medicine and surgical wards.
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: The incidence of TB among HCWs at this hospital was higher than in the general population, particularly among those over 50 years of age and those with more than 10 years of service. Annual chest radiography plays a crucial role in detecting asymptomatic, smear-negative TB cases and effectively reducing TB transmission within healthcare settings.
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