Occupational Tuberculosis Among Laboratory Workers in South Africa: Applying a Surveillance System to Strengthen Prevention and Control.
healthcare workers
laboratory workers
occupational health
occupational health surveillance
tuberculosis
Journal
International journal of environmental research and public health
ISSN: 1660-4601
Titre abrégé: Int J Environ Res Public Health
Pays: Switzerland
ID NLM: 101238455
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
25 02 2020
25 02 2020
Historique:
received:
27
01
2020
revised:
13
02
2020
accepted:
19
02
2020
entrez:
29
2
2020
pubmed:
29
2
2020
medline:
18
9
2020
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
Tuberculosis (TB) is recognized as an important health risk for health workers, however, the absence of occupational health surveillance has created knowledge gaps regarding occupational infection rates and contributing factors. This study aimed to determine the rates and contributing factors of active TB cases in laboratory healthcare employees at the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) in South Africa, as identified from an occupational surveillance system. TB cases were reported on the Occupational Health and Safety Information System (OHASIS), which recorded data on occupation type and activities and factors leading to confirmed TB. Data collected from 2012 to 2019 were used to calculate and compare TB risks within NHLS occupational groups. During the study period, there were 92 cases of TB identified in the OHASIS database. General workers, rather than skilled and unskilled laboratory workers and medical staff, had the highest incidence rate (422 per 100,000 person-years). OHASIS data revealed subgroups that seemed to be well protected, while pointing to exposure situations that beckoned policy development, as well as identified subgroups of workers for whom better training is warranted. Functional occupational health surveillance systems can identify subgroups most at risk as well as areas of programme success and areas where increased support is needed, helping to target and monitor policy and procedure modification and training needs.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Tuberculosis (TB) is recognized as an important health risk for health workers, however, the absence of occupational health surveillance has created knowledge gaps regarding occupational infection rates and contributing factors. This study aimed to determine the rates and contributing factors of active TB cases in laboratory healthcare employees at the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) in South Africa, as identified from an occupational surveillance system.
METHODS
TB cases were reported on the Occupational Health and Safety Information System (OHASIS), which recorded data on occupation type and activities and factors leading to confirmed TB. Data collected from 2012 to 2019 were used to calculate and compare TB risks within NHLS occupational groups.
RESULTS
During the study period, there were 92 cases of TB identified in the OHASIS database. General workers, rather than skilled and unskilled laboratory workers and medical staff, had the highest incidence rate (422 per 100,000 person-years). OHASIS data revealed subgroups that seemed to be well protected, while pointing to exposure situations that beckoned policy development, as well as identified subgroups of workers for whom better training is warranted.
CONCLUSIONS
Functional occupational health surveillance systems can identify subgroups most at risk as well as areas of programme success and areas where increased support is needed, helping to target and monitor policy and procedure modification and training needs.
Identifiants
pubmed: 32106466
pii: ijerph17051462
doi: 10.3390/ijerph17051462
pmc: PMC7084793
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Subventions
Organisme : CIHR
ID : ROH-115212
Pays : Canada
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Références
Arch Environ Occup Health. 2019;74(3):95-108
pubmed: 29702035
Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2007 Jun;11(6):593-605
pubmed: 17519089
Global Health. 2016 Mar 31;12:10
pubmed: 27036516
Vaccine. 2014 Aug 27;32(38):4840-3
pubmed: 24183977
Epidemiol Health. 2016 Dec 30;39:e2017002
pubmed: 28092930
BMC Med Inform Decis Mak. 2012 Aug 06;12:84
pubmed: 22867054
Presse Med. 2017 Mar;46(2 Pt 2):e53-e62
pubmed: 28256382
Pan Afr Med J. 2018 Jan 23;29:65
pubmed: 29875946
Am J Public Health. 2011 Apr;101(4):654-62
pubmed: 21330583
J Environ Public Health. 2015;2015:913741
pubmed: 25802531
Eur Respir J. 2015 May;45(5):1364-73
pubmed: 25700382
Rev Bras Enferm. 2019 Sep 16;72(5):1389-1396
pubmed: 31531666
BMC Public Health. 2015 Aug 21;15:810
pubmed: 26293238
J Clin Epidemiol. 2013 Jan;66(1):67-74
pubmed: 22521578
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018 Dec 05;15(12):
pubmed: 30563175
Public Health Action. 2017 Dec 21;7(4):258-267
pubmed: 29584794
S Afr Med J. 2013 Sep 30;103(11):853-7
pubmed: 24148172
PLoS Med. 2006 Dec;3(12):e494
pubmed: 17194191