Latent tuberculosis infection screening in healthcare workers in four large hospitals in Santiago, Chile

Indexación: Web of Science; Scielo.Introducción: Se desconoce en la actualidad cuál es la real prevalencia de infección tuberculosa latente en el personal de salud en Chile; sin embargo, este grupo ha sido descrito como con mayor riesgo de desarrollar tuberculosis activa que la población general. Objetivo: Determinar la prevalencia de infección tuberculosa latente en funcionarios de la salud en diferentes áreas laborales de riesgo. Metodología: Estudio de corte transversal, descriptivo, realizado en funcionarios pertenecientes a laboratorios clínicos o áreas de atención broncopulmonar de cuatro hospitales de la Región Metropolitana en quienes se hizo test de Quantiferon TB Gold®In tube(QFT). Resultados: Se evidenció infección tuberculosa latente en 20 de las 76 (26,3%) personas estudiadas. En aquellos funcionarios que referían antecedente de contacto en el pasado en la comunidad con enfermos de tuberculosis, la positividad del test llegó a 62,5%; en aquellos que pertenecían al Programa Nacional de Control de la Tuberculosis, a 50% y en los que realizaban toma de esputo inducido, baciloscopias o cultivo de micobacterias, a 38%. La proporción de individuos con QFT positivo fue significativamente menor en aquellos funcionarios que no tenían estos antecedentes (15,7%, p = 0,03). Se encontró además una mayor proporción de infección tuberculosa latente a mayor edad del individuo estudiado. Conclusión: La infección tuberculosa latente medida por QFT resultó altamente prevalente en el personal de la salud incluido en el presente estudio. Es necesario seguir profundizando en los posibles escenarios de implementación y limitaciones del uso de esta nueva herramienta diagnóstica, haciendo énfasis en el personal de la salud de mayor riesgo y menor edad.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.http://www.scielo.cl/pdf/rci/v31n3/art02.pd

Bidirectional association between sheezing and mental health problems in adolescence: Pelotas birth cohort, 1993

Introduction: several studies have shown an association between wheezing and mental health problems in children and adolescents. This association can occur in both directions. Objective: to assess longitudinally the bidirectional association between wheezing and mental health problems in adolescents at 11 and 15 years of age. Methods: individuals belonging to the 1993 birth cohort, in the city of Pelotas, Brazil, were followed at 11 and 15 years old. Wheezing was assessed as presence of wheezing in the last 12 months , based on the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). Mental health problems were assessed with the questionnaire Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), with application version for parents. For the analysis, the total of subjects was divided in two samples from which teenagers with the outcomes (wheezing/mental health problems) at 11 years old were excluded. Results: in the crude analysis for mental health problems at age 11 as predictor of wheezing at age 15, there was a statistical significant association for both sexes: males [RI = 1.64 (95% CI 1.16, 2.31), p = 0.005], and females [RI = 1.68 (95% CI 1.28, 2.19), p <0.001]; after adjustment for confounders, the association was maintained only for females [RI = 1.66 (95% CI 1, 16, 2.36), p = 0.005]. When wheezing at age 11 was evaluated as predictor of mental health problems at 15 years old, there was a statistical significant association in the crude analysis only for boys [RI = 1.49 (95% CI 1.04, 2.16), p=0.031]; after adjusting for confounders, this association was no longer statistically significant (p = 0.652). Conclusions: girls who present mental health problems at age 11 have a high risk for developing wheezing at 15 years old.Introdução: vários estudos mostram uma associação entre sibilância e problemas de saúde mental em crianças e adolescentes. Esta associação pode acontecer bidireccionalmente. Objetivo: avaliar de forma longitudinal a associação bidirecional entre sibilância e problemas de saúde mental em adolescentes aos 11 e 15 anos de idade. Métodos: indivíduos pertencentes à coorte de 1993 da cidade de Pelotas, Brasil, foram acompanhados aos 11 e 15 anos de idade. A sibilância foi avaliada pela pergunta chiado no peito nos últimos 12 meses , com base no Estudo Internacional de Asma e Alergias na Infância (ISAAC). Problemas de saúde mental foram avaliados através do questionário Strenghts and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) com aplicação da versão para pais. Para a análise, dividiu-se o total de indivíduos em duas amostras, sendo que em cada uma delas foram excluídos aqueles adolescentes que apresentavam o desfecho de interesse (sibilância/problemas de saúde mental) aos 11 anos. Resultados: na análise bruta para problemas de saúde mental aos 11 anos como preditor de sibilância aos 15 anos, houve associação estatisticamente significativa para ambos os sexos: nos meninos [RI=1,64 (IC95% 1,16;2,31), p=0,005], e nas meninas [RI=1,68 (IC95% 1,28;2,19), p<0,001]; após ajuste para as variáveis de confusão, a associação se manteve somente no sexo feminino [RI=1,66 (IC95% 1,16;2,36), p=0,005]. Quando avaliada a sibilância aos 11 anos como preditor de problemas de saúde mental aos15 anos, encontrou-se associação significativa na análise bruta, somente para os meninos [RI=1,49 (IC95% 1,04;2,166), p=0,031].; após ajuste para fatores de confusão, essa associação não se manteve estatisticamente significativa (p=0,652). Conclusões: meninas com problemas de saúde mental aos 11 anos têm maior risco de desenvolver sibilância aos 15 anos

Latent tuberculosis infection screening in healthcare workers in four large hospitals in Santiago, Chile Pesquisa de infección tuberculosa latente en personal de la salud en cuatro instituciones de salud en Santiago de Chile

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 proporti