Latent tuberculosis infection among healthcare workers in Duhok city.

      Аннотация: About one-quarter of the world’s population is infected with LTBI infection (LTBI) according to recent estimates, WHO describes LTBI as ‘a state of persistent immune response to stimulation by mycobacterium TB (Mtb) antigens without evidence of clinically manifested active TB (TB). LTBI is diagnosed generally by Tuberculin skin test(TST) and Interferon gamma release assay (IGRA), studies showed that IGRA is more specific (97%) than TST specially among people who had received bacille Calmette–Guerin (BCG) vaccination. Health care workers (HCWs) are at higher than average risk of infection with (Mtb) and of developing TB disease. There are currently no data available on the burden and risk of LTBI among HCWs in Kurdistan region generally and in Duhok particularly. Objective: The study aims to determine the prevalence and risk factors of LTBI among HCWs in Duhok Province, using the IGRA -Quantiferon Tb Gold plus, and furthermore, to identify and to manage HCWs with LTBI. Design: Cross sectional study.

Ключевые слова: Tuberculosis, tuberculosis infection, Duhok city, Latent tuberculosis infection, LTBI infection