Prevalence and Associated Factors of Latent Tuberculosis Infection Among Healthcare Workers in a Mexican Tertiary Care Hospital
Background/Objectives: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are globally recognized as a high-risk group for tuberculosis (TB) infection. However, limited data exist on the prevalence of latent TB infection (LTBI) and associated occupational risk factors in the Mexican context. Identifying the burden of LTBI i...
Saved in:
Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-05-01
|
Series: | Diseases |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9721/13/6/173 |
Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
_version_ | 1839654232197693440 |
---|---|
author | José Ángel Hernández-Mariano Mónica Alethia Cureño-Díaz Verónica Fernández-Sánchez Estibeyesbo Said Plascencia-Nieto Dulce Milagros Razo-Blanco-Hernández Claudia Vázquez-Zamora Víctor Hugo Gutiérrez-Muñoz Beatriz Leal-Escobar Erika Gómez-Zamora Yanelly Estrella Morales-Vargas |
author_facet | José Ángel Hernández-Mariano Mónica Alethia Cureño-Díaz Verónica Fernández-Sánchez Estibeyesbo Said Plascencia-Nieto Dulce Milagros Razo-Blanco-Hernández Claudia Vázquez-Zamora Víctor Hugo Gutiérrez-Muñoz Beatriz Leal-Escobar Erika Gómez-Zamora Yanelly Estrella Morales-Vargas |
author_sort | José Ángel Hernández-Mariano |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Background/Objectives: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are globally recognized as a high-risk group for tuberculosis (TB) infection. However, limited data exist on the prevalence of latent TB infection (LTBI) and associated occupational risk factors in the Mexican context. Identifying the burden of LTBI is essential for effective prevention. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of LTBI among HCWs in a tertiary care hospital in Mexico and to explore associated risk factors. Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among 300 HCWs (including physicians, nurses, and stretcher-bearers) at a tertiary-level hospital in Mexico. Sociodemographic and occupational data were collected through a structured questionnaire. LTBI screening was performed using the tuberculin skin test (TST), with positive results confirmed via the QuantiFERON-TB Gold assay. Associations between relevant variables and LTBI were assessed using logistic regression models, adjusted for potential confounders. Results: The prevalence of LTBI was 16.7%. After adjusting for confounders, male HCWs had significantly higher odds of LTBI compared to females (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.02; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.06–3.80). Although elevated odds of LTBI were also observed among physicians, stretcher-bearers, and those with direct contact with TB patients, these associations were not statistically significant. Conclusion: LTBI represents a relevant occupational health issue among HCWs, with nearly one in six workers affected. Early detection and prevention of TB in healthcare settings are critical to protecting individual workers and public health. These findings highlight the need to strengthen occupational TB surveillance and prevention strategies in similar healthcare environments. |
format | Article |
id | doaj-art-0ff1ae85d3fe4a9fb2a29e77e13e35f1 |
institution | Matheson Library |
issn | 2079-9721 |
language | English |
publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
publisher | MDPI AG |
record_format | Article |
series | Diseases |
spelling | doaj-art-0ff1ae85d3fe4a9fb2a29e77e13e35f12025-06-25T13:42:57ZengMDPI AGDiseases2079-97212025-05-0113617310.3390/diseases13060173Prevalence and Associated Factors of Latent Tuberculosis Infection Among Healthcare Workers in a Mexican Tertiary Care HospitalJosé Ángel Hernández-Mariano0Mónica Alethia Cureño-Díaz1Verónica Fernández-Sánchez2Estibeyesbo Said Plascencia-Nieto3Dulce Milagros Razo-Blanco-Hernández4Claudia Vázquez-Zamora5Víctor Hugo Gutiérrez-Muñoz6Beatriz Leal-Escobar7Erika Gómez-Zamora8Yanelly Estrella Morales-Vargas9Department of Research, Hospital Juarez of Mexico, Mexico City 07760, MexicoDirection of Medical Teaching and Research, Hospital Juarez of Mexico, Mexico City 07760, MexicoDepartment of Research, Hospital Juarez of Mexico, Mexico City 07760, MexicoPostgraduate Studies and Research Section, School of Medicine, National Polytechnic Institute, Mexico City 07738, MexicoDepartment of Research, Hospital Juarez of Mexico, Mexico City 07760, MexicoDepartment of Infectious Disease, Hospital Juarez of Mexico, Mexico City 07760, MexicoEpidemiological Surveillance Unit, Hospital Juarez of Mexico, Mexico City 07760, MexicoEpidemiological Surveillance Unit, Hospital Juarez of Mexico, Mexico City 07760, MexicoDepartment of Medical Management, Hospital Juarez of Mexico, Mexico City 07760, MexicoSchool of Medicine, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City 04510, MexicoBackground/Objectives: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are globally recognized as a high-risk group for tuberculosis (TB) infection. However, limited data exist on the prevalence of latent TB infection (LTBI) and associated occupational risk factors in the Mexican context. Identifying the burden of LTBI is essential for effective prevention. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of LTBI among HCWs in a tertiary care hospital in Mexico and to explore associated risk factors. Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among 300 HCWs (including physicians, nurses, and stretcher-bearers) at a tertiary-level hospital in Mexico. Sociodemographic and occupational data were collected through a structured questionnaire. LTBI screening was performed using the tuberculin skin test (TST), with positive results confirmed via the QuantiFERON-TB Gold assay. Associations between relevant variables and LTBI were assessed using logistic regression models, adjusted for potential confounders. Results: The prevalence of LTBI was 16.7%. After adjusting for confounders, male HCWs had significantly higher odds of LTBI compared to females (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.02; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.06–3.80). Although elevated odds of LTBI were also observed among physicians, stretcher-bearers, and those with direct contact with TB patients, these associations were not statistically significant. Conclusion: LTBI represents a relevant occupational health issue among HCWs, with nearly one in six workers affected. Early detection and prevention of TB in healthcare settings are critical to protecting individual workers and public health. These findings highlight the need to strengthen occupational TB surveillance and prevention strategies in similar healthcare environments.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9721/13/6/173health personnelhealthcare workerslatent tuberculosismycobacterium tuberculosis infection |
spellingShingle | José Ángel Hernández-Mariano Mónica Alethia Cureño-Díaz Verónica Fernández-Sánchez Estibeyesbo Said Plascencia-Nieto Dulce Milagros Razo-Blanco-Hernández Claudia Vázquez-Zamora Víctor Hugo Gutiérrez-Muñoz Beatriz Leal-Escobar Erika Gómez-Zamora Yanelly Estrella Morales-Vargas Prevalence and Associated Factors of Latent Tuberculosis Infection Among Healthcare Workers in a Mexican Tertiary Care Hospital Diseases health personnel healthcare workers latent tuberculosis mycobacterium tuberculosis infection |
title | Prevalence and Associated Factors of Latent Tuberculosis Infection Among Healthcare Workers in a Mexican Tertiary Care Hospital |
title_full | Prevalence and Associated Factors of Latent Tuberculosis Infection Among Healthcare Workers in a Mexican Tertiary Care Hospital |
title_fullStr | Prevalence and Associated Factors of Latent Tuberculosis Infection Among Healthcare Workers in a Mexican Tertiary Care Hospital |
title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence and Associated Factors of Latent Tuberculosis Infection Among Healthcare Workers in a Mexican Tertiary Care Hospital |
title_short | Prevalence and Associated Factors of Latent Tuberculosis Infection Among Healthcare Workers in a Mexican Tertiary Care Hospital |
title_sort | prevalence and associated factors of latent tuberculosis infection among healthcare workers in a mexican tertiary care hospital |
topic | health personnel healthcare workers latent tuberculosis mycobacterium tuberculosis infection |
url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9721/13/6/173 |
work_keys_str_mv | AT joseangelhernandezmariano prevalenceandassociatedfactorsoflatenttuberculosisinfectionamonghealthcareworkersinamexicantertiarycarehospital AT monicaalethiacurenodiaz prevalenceandassociatedfactorsoflatenttuberculosisinfectionamonghealthcareworkersinamexicantertiarycarehospital AT veronicafernandezsanchez prevalenceandassociatedfactorsoflatenttuberculosisinfectionamonghealthcareworkersinamexicantertiarycarehospital AT estibeyesbosaidplascencianieto prevalenceandassociatedfactorsoflatenttuberculosisinfectionamonghealthcareworkersinamexicantertiarycarehospital AT dulcemilagrosrazoblancohernandez prevalenceandassociatedfactorsoflatenttuberculosisinfectionamonghealthcareworkersinamexicantertiarycarehospital AT claudiavazquezzamora prevalenceandassociatedfactorsoflatenttuberculosisinfectionamonghealthcareworkersinamexicantertiarycarehospital AT victorhugogutierrezmunoz prevalenceandassociatedfactorsoflatenttuberculosisinfectionamonghealthcareworkersinamexicantertiarycarehospital AT beatrizlealescobar prevalenceandassociatedfactorsoflatenttuberculosisinfectionamonghealthcareworkersinamexicantertiarycarehospital AT erikagomezzamora prevalenceandassociatedfactorsoflatenttuberculosisinfectionamonghealthcareworkersinamexicantertiarycarehospital AT yanellyestrellamoralesvargas prevalenceandassociatedfactorsoflatenttuberculosisinfectionamonghealthcareworkersinamexicantertiarycarehospital |