Screening for tuberculosis: current practices and attitudes of hospital workers

Abstract

To examine the current practices and attitudes of health workers to the prevention of tuberculosis in our 55-bed chest unit, we investigated the tuberculin reactor status, reviewed pre-employment screening and reviewed the action taken after contact with tuberculosis by staff members. We assessed all 61 staff members, including 44 nurses, 1 physiotherapist, 11 doctors and 5 domestic workers. $\text{47}\text{61}$ staff members had had BCG vaccination. Heaf testing revealed 3 Heaf-negative subjects and, of the remainder, 52 had grade 3 or stronger reactions. Only $\text{3}\text{11}$ doctors, $\text{36}\text{44}$ nurses and $\text{4}\text{5}$ domestic workers had had any pre-employment screening. No action was taken by any doctor after their last contact with tuberculosis, whereas $\text{10}\text{44}$ nurses and $\text{3}\text{5}$ domestic workers had had chest X-rays. This study shows the low importance with which the risk of tuberculosis is perceived, particularly by doctors and demonstrates the need for stricter supervision and improved quality of pre-employment screening.