scholarly journals Tuberculosis among Health Care Workers

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (9) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Hiv Positive ◽  
Bacterial Disease ◽  
Infected People ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Night Sweats ◽  
Latent Tb

Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial disease caused by Mycobacterium Tuberculosis. It spreads form one person to another through air. When infected people with TB cough, sneeze or spit, they propel the TB germs in the air. A person needs to inhale only a few of these germs to be infected. Evidence of TB has been reported in human remains dated thousands of years. About one quarter of the world’s population has latent TB, which means TB bacteria have infected people but are not (yet) ill with the disease and therefore cannot transmit the disease. Tb occurs in specific risk groups such as immigrants, HIV-positive patients, homeless patients, prisoners, and alcoholics. Health care workers, who face frequent occupational exposure, are at particularly high risk. When a person develops active TB, the symptoms (such as cough, fever, night sweats or weight loss) may be latent for many months. This can lead to delays in seeking care and transmission of the bacteria to others. People with active TB can infect 10-15 other people through close contact over the course of the course of a year. Without treatment, 45% of HIV- negative people with TB on average and nearly all HIV- positive people with TB will die. Transmission of tuberculosis (TB) in health care settings to both patients and health care workers has been reported from virtually every country of the world, regardless of local TB incidence. We are presenting the case of an asymptomatic 28- year-old Caucasian male from Europe who initially was being screened for TB for pre-employment purposes.

scholarly journals Over view for the truth of COVID -19 pandemic: A guide for the Pathologists, Health care workers and community’

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (COVID19-S4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mulazim Hussain Bukhari ◽  
Khalid Mahmood ◽  
Syeda Ailia Zahra
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Personal Protection Equipment ◽  
Infected People ◽  
Laboratory Staff ◽  
Creative Commons ◽  
Balanced Diet ◽  
Care Workers

Pakistan is in the grip of COVID-19, due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) since 26 February 2020, and the number of infected people and mortality is rising gradually. The health workers, doctors, pathologists and laboratory staff are front line fighters who are facing the risk. Few things are important for public and health workers, human behavior is at the core of preparedness and response i.e, personal protective measures, (handwashing, face masks, respiratory etiquette, surface and objects cleansing), social distancing and travel measures because the virus spreads through the  respiratory channels, eyes, nose and mouth. While working in the Pathology labs, use the personal protection equipment (PPE), during the work in the duty. Avoiding the over duties and long shifts. It is good to keep the immune system healthy by taking a healthy balanced diet, vitamin supplements, and a night of proper sleep. It is also important to avoid taking food during duties and avoid making close contact without wearing safety dress. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.COVID19-S4.2519 How to cite this:Bukhari MH, Mahmood K, Zahra SA. Over view for the truth of COVID-19 pandemic: A guide for the Pathologists, Health care workers and community’. Pak J Med Sci. 2020;36(COVID19-S4):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.COVID19-S4.2519 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

scholarly journals Upregulation of PD-1 expression on circulating CD8+ but not CD4+ T cells is associated with tuberculosis infection in health care workers

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cui-lin Shi ◽  
Jian-ping Zhang ◽  
Ping Xu ◽  
Jin Li ◽  
Jie Shen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Cd4 T Cells ◽  
Receptor Expression ◽  
Effector Memory ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Latent Tb ◽  
Latent Tb Infection

Abstract Background Health care workers (HCWs) are at risk for occupationally acquired Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and tuberculosis (TB) disease due to repeated exposure to workplace tubercle bacilli. To determine whether continual mycobacterial stimulation correlates with increased expression of inhibitory T cell receptors, here we compared PD-1 receptor expression on surfaces of circulating T cells between naïve (uninfected) HCWs and HCWs with latent TB infection (LTBI). Result Data collected from 133 medical workers who met study selection criteria were included in the final analysis. QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-​Tube (QFT-GIT) testing yielded positive results for 32 HCWs, for an overall LTBI rate of 24.1%. Multivariate analysis identified HCW length of service > 15 years as an independent risk factor for a positive QFT-GIT result. In addition, comparisons of blood T cell subgroup profiles between QFT- and QFT+ groups indicated QFT+ subjects possessed greater proportions of mature (TM), transitional memory (TTM) and effector memory (TEM) CD4+ T cell subgroups and lower proportions of naïve T cells (TN). Moreover, the QFT+ group percentage of CD8+ T cells with detectable surface PD-1 was significantly higher than the corresponding percentage for the QFT- group. Meanwhile, no statistical intergroup difference was observed in percentages of CD4+ T cells with detectible surface PD-1. Conclusions Our data demonstrated that upregulated PD-1 expression on circulating CD8+, but not CD4+ T cells, was associated with latent TB infection of HCWs. As compared to other hospitals, occupational TB infection risk in our hospital was substantially mitigated by implementation of multitiered infection control measures.

scholarly journals Infection, screening, and psychological stress of health care workers with COVID-19 in a non-frontline clinical department

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-25
Author(s):  
Ge Wang ◽  
Jia-Lun Guan ◽  
Xiu-Qing Zhu ◽  
Mu-Ru Wang ◽  
Dan Fang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Psychological Stress ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Endoscopic Examination ◽  
Viral Shedding ◽  
Clinical Department ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Ward Rounds

ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate risk factors and psychological stress of health care workers (HCWs) with COVID-19 in a non-frontline clinical department. Methods: Data of 2 source patients and all HCWs with infection risk were obtained in a department in Wuhan from January to February 2020. A questionnaire was designed to evaluate psychological stress of COVID-19 on HCWs. Results: The overall infection rate was 4.8% in HCWs. 10 of 25 HCWs who contacted with 2 source patients were diagnosed with confirmed COVID-19 (8/10) and suspected COVID-19 (2/10). Other 2 HCWs were transmitted by other patients or colleagues. Close care behaviours included physical examination (6/12), life nursing (4/12), ward rounds (4/12), endoscopic examination (2/12). Contacts fluctuated from 1 to 24 times and each contact was short (8.1 min ± 5.6 min). HCWs wore surgical masks (11/12), gloves (7/12), and isolation clothing (3/12) when providing medical care. Most HCWs experienced a mild course with 2 asymptomatic infections, taking 9.8 days and 20.9 days to obtain viral shedding and clinical cure, respectively. Psychological stress included worry (58.3%), anxiety (83.3%), depression (58.3%), and insomnia (58.3%). Conclusions: Close contact with COVID-19 patients and insufficient protection were key risk factors. Precaution measures and psychological support on COVID-19 is urgently required for HCWs.

scholarly journals Attitudes towards preventive tuberculosis treatment among hospital staff

PeerJ ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. e1738 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vidya Pathak ◽  
Zinta Harrington ◽  
Claudia C. Dobler
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Hospital Staff ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Tb Treatment ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Latent Tb

Background.Healthcare workers have an increased risk of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), but previous studies suggested that they might be reluctant to accept preventive tuberculosis (TB) treatment. We aimed to examine doctors’ and nurses’ experience of TB screening and to explore their attitudes towards preventive TB treatment.Methods.We conducted a survey among randomly selected healthcare workers at a tertiary hospital in Sydney, Australia, using a paper-based questionnaire.Results.A total of 1,304 questionnaires were distributed and 311 (24%) responses were received. The majority of hospital staff supported preventive TB treatment in health care workers with evidence of latent TB infection (LTBI) in general (74%, 164/223) and for them personally (81%, 198/244) while 80 and 53 healthcare workers respectively had no opinion on the topic. Staff working in respiratory medicine were significantly less likely to support preventive TB treatment in health care workers in general or for them personally if they would have evidence of LTBI compared to other specialties (p= 0.001). Only 13% (14/106) of respondents with evidence of LTBI indicated that they had been offered preventive TB treatment. Twenty-one percent (64/306) of respondents indicated that they did not know the difference between active and latent TB. Among staff who had undergone testing for LTBI, only 33% (75/230) felt adequately informed about the meaning of their test results.Discussion.Hospital staff in general had positive attitudes towards preventive TB treatment, but actual treatment rates were low and perceived knowledge about LTBI was insufficient among a significant proportion of staff. The gap between high support for preventive TB treatment among staff and low treatment rates needs to be addressed. Better education on the concept of LTBI and the meaning of screening test results is required.

scholarly journals SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence Survey in People Involved in Different Essential Activities during the General Lock-Down Phase in the Province of Prato (Tuscany, Italy)

Vaccines ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 778
Author(s):  
Vieri Lastrucci ◽  
Chiara Lorini ◽  
Marco Del Riccio ◽  
Eleonora Gori ◽  
Fabrizio Chiesi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Support Services ◽  
Serological Test ◽  
Community Support ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Work From Home ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Low Incidence ◽  
Hospital Transmission

Serosurveys may help to assess the transmission dynamics in high-risk groups. The aim of the study was to assess the SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroprevalence in people who had performed essential activities during the lock-down period in the Province of Prato (Italy), and to evaluate the risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 according to the type of service. All the workers and volunteers of the Civil Protection, employees of the municipalities, and all the staff of the Health Authority of the Province of Prato were invited to be tested with a rapid serological test. A total of 4656 participants were tested. SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were found in 138 (2.96%) cases. The seroprevalence in health care workers, in participants involved in essential support services and in those who worked from home were 4.1%, 1.4% and 1.0%, respectively. Health care workers experienced higher odds of seropositivity (OR 4.38, 95%CI 2.19–10.41) than participants who were assigned to work-from-home; no significant seropositivity differences were observed between support services and work-from-home groups. A low circulation of SARS-CoV-2 was observed among participants performing different essential activities. Findings highlighted the risk of in-hospital transmission in healthcare workers and that community support services may increase the risk of seropositivity to a limited extent in low incidence areas.

Prevention and management of SARS-CoV-2 infection among the health care workers

Coronaviruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 02 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juhi Sharma ◽  
Divakar Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Direct Contact ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Risk Of Infection ◽  
Frontline Workers ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Taking Care

: COVID-19 is currently threatening the globe. SARS-CoV-2 is the cause of COVID-19, which spreads via droplets/airborne and direct contact. Health care workers (HCWs) are the frontline workers, which are directly involved in taking care of patients affected by COVID-19. HCWs are at a higher risk of infection during the caring of COVID-19 patients. In this focused review, we have highlighted the higher risk for COVID-19 infection among health care professionals during close contact with patients and their preventive management in COVID-19 pandemic.

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