Latent tuberculosis infection and infection-associated risk factors for miner workers with silicosis in eastern China.

Objectives: Silicosis people are at high risk of developing pulmonary tuberculosis. Whether silica exposure increases the likelihood of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) was not well understood, and potential factors involved in LTBI risk among silicosis people were not evaluated before. Thus, LTBI among silicosis people and potential risk factors for LTBI among silicosis people were evaluated in this study.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was undertaken for 130 miner workers with silicosis. The QFT-GIT was performed for LTBI detection.

Results: The LTBI was high to 31.6% (36/114) for silicosis participants, and 13.1% (13/99) had a history of tuberculosis. Drinking was associated with LTBI risk (OR = 6.92, 95%CI, 1.47-32.66, P = 0.015). Meanwhile, tunneling work was associated with an increased risk of LTBI compared with other mining occupations (OR = 3.91,95%CI,1.20-12.70, P = 0.024).

Conclusions: The LTBI rate of silicosis participants was high and more than 10% had a history of tuberculosis. Drinking alcohol and tunneling were independent risk factors for LTBI in silicosis participants.