Background: It is currently unknown which is the prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection in healthcare workers in Chile, but this group has been described as at higher risk of developing active tuberculosis than general population.
Objectives: To determine the prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection in a sample of healthcare workers from at risk areas.
Methodology: A cross-sectional, descriptive study, conducted in health care workers from clinical laboratories or respiratory care areas in four hospitals in Santiago. Latent tuberculosis infection detection was determined by Quantiferon® TB Gold In Tube testing (QFT).
Results: QFT resulted positive in 20 of 76 (26.3%) of the individuals tested. Test positivity reached 62.5% among the personnel that reported history of past TB contact in the community, 50% among the personnel who belonged to the national tuberculosis control program and 38% among those doing induced sputum, acid fast smear or mycobacterial cultures. The proportion of individuals with positive QFT was significantly lower in those personnel who had no such risk factors (15.7%, p = 0.03). The proportion of latent tuberculosis infection also increased in direct relation to the age of the subject.
Conclusion: Latent tuberculosis infection as detected by QFT testing was highly prevalent in healthcare workers included in the present study. Further exploring the limitations and possible scenarios for this new diagnostic tool is needed, with emphasis on health personnel at higher-risk and younger individuals.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0716-10182014000300002 | DOI Listing |
Pulmonology
December 2025
Department of Allergology, Institute of Allergology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Rhinitis is a common comorbidity in patients with asthma. However, the frequency of underreported rhinitis in asthma is not known. In this study, we aimed to assess the characteristics of patients with self-reported asthma and no self-reported rhinitis, as well as the extent of the underreporting of rhinitis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLangmuir
January 2025
Center for Condensed Matter Theory, Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore 560012, India.
The enduring pathogenicity of can be attributed to its lipid-rich cell wall, with mycolic acids (MAs) being a significant constituent. Different MAs' fluidity and structural adaptability within the bacterial cell envelope significantly influence their physicochemical properties, operational capabilities, and pathogenic potential. Therefore, an accurate conformational representation of various MAs in aqueous media can provide insights into their potential role within the intricate structure of the bacterial cell wall.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Bacteriol
January 2025
Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen (IMIT), Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
Unlabelled: is well adapted to survive and persist in the infected host, escaping the host's immune response. Since polyamines such as spermine, which are synthesized by infected macrophages, are able to inhibit the growth of , the pathogen needs strategies to cope with these toxic metabolites. The actinomycete , a close relative of makes use of a gamma-glutamylation pathway to functionally neutralize spermine.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCurr Opin Pediatr
January 2025
Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute (Sydney ID), University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Purpose Of Review: Life on earth, as we know it, is changing. The likelihood of more frequent pandemics and disease outbreaks is something that current global healthcare infrastructure is ill equipped to navigate. Human activity is forcing our planet into a new geologic epoch, the Anthropocene, which is typified by increased uncertainty resulting from human disruption of earth's life-giving ecosystems.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFront Public Health
January 2025
Department of Scientific Research, Hainan General Hospital, Haikou, China.
Objective: To assess the current status of knowledge, attitude, and practice pertaining to tuberculosis prevention among college students in Hainan Province, China, and to identify influential factors. The findings of this study are intended to provide valuable insights for the development and implementation of effective health education programs aimed at tuberculosis prevention and control.
Methods: A convenient sampling method was employed to conduct a questionnaire-based survey among college students at a university in Hainan Province using the Wenjuanxing platform from January to February 2023.
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