Risk factors and control strategies for silicotuberculosis as an occupational disease

Abstract

Silicotuberculosis is critical in community settings among workers and employees exposed to silica dust. Older age of entry (>30 years), male sex, infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), exposure duration, smoking, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, migration, the severity of the silicosis and the intensity of the exposure are potential risk factors. Lack of timely diagnosis and treatment for tuberculosis (TB) may also raise the rate of infection; previous treatment of TB is possibly associated with the development of silicotuberculosis in more than half of patients, increasing with age (>40 years). Identification of risk factors benefits not only the academic research community, but also the workers or employees and policy making. Some strategies can be implemented, such as controlling or reducing exposure to silica dust, ensuring continuity of treatment of TB or extended anti-TB treatment, management of the situation by occupational health professionals, prevention of oscillating migration, providing workers with compensation, training and education in occupational health, improving the quality of life of miners and workers, intensive medical surveillance and TB screening in routine health check ups, and policy making for higher immunity to inhibit inhalation of dust by workers or employees.

Antimicrobial effect of chitosan–silver–copper nanocomposite on Candida albicans

“…In addition to cutaneous and mucosal infections, these opportunistic pathogens in immunocompromised people can create a chronic or acute invasive infection that can be limited to an organ or as a diffuse disease [5][6][7]. These infections, which in most cases lead to death, are known as invasive candidiasis.…”

Rare complications of silica dust exposure

“…Exposure to silica, even without initiation of silicosis disease is associated with a high-risk predisposition of TB, which has been reported as 1.9% per year. A reduction in silica dust exposure, continuous medical surveillance, and TB screening in high-risk occupations and securing anti-TB treatment are strategies to mini-mize the rate of silicotuberculosis among workers or employees (6).…”

Silicosis in artificial stone workers: Spectrum of radiological high‐resolution CT chest findings

“…The risk of developing tuberculosis infection in silica‐exposed individuals is many times greater than in the general population, although no data are yet available about TB infection in the artificial stone cohort. Non‐tuberculous mycobacterial infection (NTMI) also has a higher prevalence.…”