Risk of latent tuberculosis infection among healthcare workers in Italy: a retrospective study with Quantiferon Test.

Objective: The latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is a state of persistent immune response to stimulation by Mycobacterium Tuberculosis antigens without clinical manifestation: the healthcare workers (HCWs) have a higher exposure risk so prevention is an important challenge for occupational medicine. The aim of our study is to evaluate the prevalence of LTBI among HCWs of the Foundation Policlinic "Tor Vergata".

Methods: This is a retrospective study conducted by analyzing the clinical records of 825 HCWs of the PTV, from January 1st to December 31th 2016.

Early treatment in Crohn's disease: do we have enough evidence to reverse the therapeutic pyramid?

Current guidelines on the medical therapy of Crohn's disease recommend a step-up strategy consisting of a progressive intensification of treatment as the disease severity increases. In the last fifteen years, the introduction of biologic therapies, particularly anti-TNFα antibodies, has offered new therapeutic opportunities. The efficacy of anti-TNF-alpha therapy for inducing and maintaining clinical response or remission in moderate to severe Crohn's disease has been extensively evaluated in randomised controlled trials and meta-analyses.

Oral beclomethasone dipropionate: a critical review of its use in the management of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.

Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are inflammatory bowel diseases characterised by a chronic relapsing course. Corticosteroids represent the mainstay of medical treatment of inflammatory bowel disease for the induction of remission. Despite the high efficacy of systemic steroids, their use is limited by the high incidence of potentially serious adverse effects.