Introduction:The risk of tuberculosis (TBC) in nurses is related to its incidence in the general population. Nursing students involved in clinical training could be exposed to occupational risks similar to those of healthcare workers (HCWs). To better understand the epidemiology of nosocomial TBC among nurses in a context of low endemicity, we recruited a cohort of young nursing trainees at the Second University of Naples.Methods: A screening programme for LTBI in nursing students was conducted between January 2012 and December 2013, at the Second University of Naples, with clinical evaluations, tuberculin skin test (TST) and, in positive TST student, the interferon-g release assays (IGRA). Putative risk factors for LTBI were assessed by a standardized questionnaire.Results: 1577 nursing students attending the Second University of Naples have been submitted to screening programme for TBC. 1575 have performed TST as first level test and 2 Quantiferon test (QFT). 19 students were TST positive and continued the diagnostic workup practicing QFT, that was positive in 1 student. Of the 2 subjects that have practiced QFT as first level test only 1 was positive. In 2 students positive to QFT test we formulated the diagnosis of LTBI by clinical and radiographic results.Conclusion: The prevalence of LTBI among nursing students in our study resulted very low. In countries with a low incidence of TBC, the screening programs of healthcare students can be useful for the early identification and treatment of the sporadic cases of LTBI.
Objective: The development of a vaccine against hepatitis B virus (HBV) is one of the improvements in strategy prevention during the last decades. Aim: To evaluate HBV-related vaccine status in healthcare workers (HCW) exposed to biological risk. Methods: The serum markers for HBV were collected from HCWs in two tertiary care hospitals in Naples (Italy). Multivariate statistical analysis was then performed to identify associated factors linked to the long-term immunogenicity of the HCWs. Results: All HBV vaccinated individuals were screened for whole marker patterns; all were HBsAg/anti-HBc negative. Of individuals, 20% had an anti-HB antibody titre < 10 IU/L. Multivariate statistical analysis highlighted that women were more protected than men (73.6% vs. 26.4%, P < 0.05). Additionally, nurses seem to maintain a higher antibody titre than doctors and other staff, such as auxiliary technicians ( P < 0.05). Conclusions: Our data support the evidence of a strong immunogenicity against HBV, assessed through the circulating antibody titre, when prophylactic vaccination is conducted in non-infantile age, particularly for women. The outcome of the study supports the central role of occupational physicians within the hospital districts in terms of primary prevention and maximum protection of HCWs.
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