OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of the latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) among health care workers (HCW) of the emergency ward of Meaux hospital, by comparing it with two witnesses units: the orthopaedic surgery ward (referral service to low risk) and the respiratory ward (referral service to high risk). METHODS: From July to December 2008, on a voluntary basis, anonymised blood samples of any HCW of the three departments were carried out by the occupational health service. Determination of interferon gamma was released by the test "QuantiFERON-TB Gold" (QFT). RESULTS: Of the 137 eligible subject sampled, 16 had a positive QFT test: nine in the emergency ward, six in the respiratory ward and one in the orthopaedic surgery ward. The proportion of HCW with a positive QFT test was not significantly different between the three wards. DISCUSSION: This study shows that HCWs of the emergency ward of the Meaux hospital are not working in a department where the risk of LTBI is high. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that, in a territory of health where the incidence of the tuberculosis disease is superior to the national average, the emergency department of Meaux hospital does not belong to an area at high risk of LTBI. It underlines the interest of QFT test for the screening of LTBI among vaccinated persons.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of the latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) among health care workers (HCW) of the emergency ward of Meaux hospital, by comparing it with two witnesses units: the orthopaedic surgery ward (referral service to low risk) and the respiratory ward (referral service to high risk). METHODS: From July to December 2008, on a voluntary basis, anonymised blood samples of any HCW of the three departments were carried out by the occupational health service. Determination of interferon gamma was released by the test "QuantiFERON-TB Gold" (QFT). RESULTS: Of the 137 eligible subject sampled, 16 had a positive QFT test: nine in the emergency ward, six in the respiratory ward and one in the orthopaedic surgery ward. The proportion of HCW with a positive QFT test was not significantly different between the three wards. DISCUSSION: This study shows that HCWs of the emergency ward of the Meaux hospital are not working in a department where the risk of LTBI is high. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that, in a territory of health where the incidence of the tuberculosis disease is superior to the national average, the emergency department of Meaux hospital does not belong to an area at high risk of LTBI. It underlines the interest of QFT test for the screening of LTBI among vaccinated persons.