Infection control and tuberculosis among health care workers in Viet Nam, 2009-2013: a cross-sectional survey

Abstract

BackgroundData on tuberculosis (TB) among health care workers (HCW) and TB infection control (TBIC) indicators are rarely available at national level. We assessed multi-year trends in notification data of TB among HCW and explored possible associations with TBIC indicators.MethodsNotified TB incidence among HCW and 3 other TBIC indicators were collected annually from all 64 provincial and 3 national TB facilities in Vietnam. Time trends in TB notification between 2009 and 2013 were assessed using linear regression analysis. Multivariate regression models were applied to assess associations between the facility-specific 5-year notification rate and TBIC indicators.ResultsForty-seven (70 %) of 67 facilities contributed data annually over five years; 15 reported at least one HCW with TB in 2009 compared to six in 2013. The TB notification rate dropped from 593 to 197 per 100,000 HCW (ptrend = 0.02).Among 104 TB cases reported, 30 were employed at TB wards, 24 at other clinical wards, ten in the microbiology laboratory, six at the MDR-TB ward, and 34 in other positions.The proportion of facilities with a TBIC plan and focal person remained relatively stable between 70 % and 84 %. The proportion of facilities providing personal protective equipment (PPE) to their staff increased over time. Facilities with a TBIC focal person were 7.6 times more likely to report any TB cases than facilities without a focal person.ConclusionsThe TB notification rates among HCW seemed to decrease over time. Availability of PPE increased over the same period. Appointing a TBIC focal person was associated with reporting of TB cases among HCW. It remains unclear whether TBIC measures helped in reduction of the TB notification rates in HCW.

Implementation status of national tuberculosis infection control guidelines in Bangladeshi hospitals

“…The study identified adherence to N95 respirator use among HCWs serving in MDR-TB wards and in the laboratory, and similar findings were observed in a cross-sectional study among HCWs in Vietnam and India [ 28 ]. Although there was a supply of N95 respirators at the TB specialty hospital, they were not being used in wards with drug-susceptible TB patients.…”

An exploration of health workers risks of contracting tuberculosis in the workplace: a qualitative study

“…These findings are consistent with a similar study by De Perio & Niemeier (2014) who observed that there was an increased risk of tuberculosis transmission when health workers practiced inadequate tuberculosis prevention strategies [6]. However, another study by Tiemersma et al (2016) found that availability of infection prevention focal point person in health facilities encouraged health workers adherence to infection control principles and thereby reduced the risk of contracting tuberculosis and other infectious diseases when on duty [15]. Additionally, the current study found that nurses working at Namwala District Hospital had poor attitudes towards infectious disease prevention because they were not frequently wearing disposable hand gloves and face masks during their professional practice.…”

An exploration of health workers risks of contracting tuberculosis at workplace: a qualitative study

“…These findings are consistent with a similar study by De Perio & Niemeier (2014) who observed that there was an increased risk of tuberculosis transmission when health workers practiced inadequate infection prevention strategies (6). However, another study by Tiemersma et al (2016) found that the availability of an infection prevention focal point person in health facilities encouraged health workers adherence to infection control principles and thereby reduced the risk of contracting tuberculosis and other infectious diseases when on duty (15).…”