Jann-Yuan Wang1, Ming-Chia Lee2, Jer-Hwa Chang3,4, Ming-Chih Yu3,4, Vin-Cent Wu1, Kuo-Liang Huang5, Chiu-Ping Su6, Kun-Mao Chao7, Chih-Hsin Lee3,8. 1. Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. 2. Department of Pharmacy, New Taipei City Hospital, New Taipei, Taiwan. 3. Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Wanfang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan. 4. School of Respiratory Therapy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan. 5. Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei Tzuchi Hospital, the Buddhist Tzuchi Medical Foundation, New Taipei, Taiwan. 6. Department of Nursing, Taipei Tzuchi Hospital, the Buddhist Tzuchi Medical Foundation, New Taipei, Taiwan. 7. Graduate Institute of Biomedical Electronics and Bioinformatics, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. 8. School of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: This retrospective national surveillance study investigated the burden of and risk factors for nosocomial exposure of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) in intensive care units. METHODS: Patients admitted to intensive care units were identified from the National Health Insurance Research Database. During 2004-2009, there were 1 387 707 intensive care unit admissions of 900 562 adult patients. Pulmonary tuberculosis association was considered if the patient was diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis during admission or within 3 months after discharge. Nosocomial transmissible period was calculated based on the length of anti-tuberculosis treatment and negative-pressure isolation during admission. RESULTS: Pulmonary tuberculosis was associated with 1.20% of all intensive care unit admissions and 6731 (38.9%) started anti-TB treatment during admission. For the other 10 583 admissions, the diagnosis was made after discharge and anti-TB treatment was not prescribed during admission. The probability paralleled the regional tuberculosis incidence. On average, 2794 pulmonary tuberculosis associated intensive care unit admissions contributed to 42 999-44 062 days of nosocomial exposure per year. The length of nosocomial transmissible period decreased with the gradual implementation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis nucleic acid amplification tests in intensive care practice. Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that the length of nosocomial transmissible period was inversely associated with male gender, airway symptoms prior to admission and performing M. tuberculosis nucleic acid amplification tests and mycobacterial culture. CONCLUSIONS: Nosocomial tuberculosis exposure is not uncommon in intensive care units. Performing rapid molecular diagnostic tests in those suspected of tuberculosis is recommended to reduce the risk of nosocomial exposure.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: This retrospective national surveillance study investigated the burden of and risk factors for nosocomial exposure of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) in intensive care units. METHODS:Patients admitted to intensive care units were identified from the National Health Insurance Research Database. During 2004-2009, there were 1 387 707 intensive care unit admissions of 900 562 adult patients. Pulmonary tuberculosis association was considered if the patient was diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis during admission or within 3 months after discharge. Nosocomial transmissible period was calculated based on the length of anti-tuberculosis treatment and negative-pressure isolation during admission. RESULTS:Pulmonary tuberculosis was associated with 1.20% of all intensive care unit admissions and 6731 (38.9%) started anti-TB treatment during admission. For the other 10 583 admissions, the diagnosis was made after discharge and anti-TB treatment was not prescribed during admission. The probability paralleled the regional tuberculosis incidence. On average, 2794 pulmonary tuberculosis associated intensive care unit admissions contributed to 42 999-44 062 days of nosocomial exposure per year. The length of nosocomial transmissible period decreased with the gradual implementation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis nucleic acid amplification tests in intensive care practice. Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that the length of nosocomial transmissible period was inversely associated with male gender, airway symptoms prior to admission and performing M. tuberculosis nucleic acid amplification tests and mycobacterial culture. CONCLUSIONS:Nosocomial tuberculosis exposure is not uncommon in intensive care units. Performing rapid molecular diagnostic tests in those suspected of tuberculosis is recommended to reduce the risk of nosocomial exposure.