Occupational risk tuberculosis among healthcare workers Journal Article
| Authors: | Palmore, T. N.; Sepkowitz, K. A. |
| Article Title: | Occupational risk tuberculosis among healthcare workers |
| Abstract: | Occupational TB has been an emerging infectious disease among healthcare workers. Its incidence spiked in the late-1980s and early 1990s, when nosocomial outbreaks of TB, including MDR-TB, caused alarm. Its incidence has clearly dropped since the mid-1990s, a trend largely due to intensified (or, in some cases, brand new) infection control practices. Despite the consistent decline in nationwide TB case rates, the issue of occupational TB remains important and deserving of further study. Complacency on the part of hospitals and policymakers has been widely implicated in the dramatic resurgence of TB in the mid-1980s, when HIV and demographic changes led to a rise in cases. As the incidence of TB among healthcare workers declined from the 1950s to 1980, there was a slackening of infection control measures, "if not outright nelgect of such practices". It is very likely that there will be another resurgence of TB if the vigilance adopted in the past 10 years is relaxed. |
| Keywords: | review; human immunodeficiency virus infection; demography; bcg vaccine; protective clothing; liver toxicity; incidence; hospital; drug fatality; professional practice; health care personnel; high risk population; hospital infection; rifampicin; infection control; management; infection risk; multidrug resistance; tuberculosis; occupational exposure; tuberculin test; isoniazid; superinfection; alertness; occupational hazard; tuberculostatic agent; pyrazinamide; human; face mask |
| Journal Title: | Clinics in Occupational and Environmental Medicine |
| Volume: | 2 |
| Issue: | 3 |
| ISSN: | 1526-0046 |
| Publisher: | W.B. Saunders Co-Elsevier Inc. |
| Date Published: | 2002-01-01 |
| Start Page: | 609 |
| End Page: | 629 |
| Language: | English |
| DOI: | 10.1016/s1526-0046(03)00022-0 |
| PROVIDER: | scopus |
| DOI/URL: | |
| Notes: | Export Date: 14 November 2014 -- Source: Scopus |
