Proportionate mortality from pulmonary tuberculosis associated with occupations--28 states, 1979-1990.

The risk for occupational exposure to tuberculosis (TB) is increased among healthcare and other workers exposed to persons with active TB, workers exposed to silica or other agents that increase the risk of progression from latent infection to active TB, and workers in occupations associated with low socioeconomic status (SES). Accurate estimates of and surveillance for occupationally associated TB are limited because reports of incident TB cases lack comprehensive occupational data (1). Although occupation is routinely recorded on death certificates, this information is not routinely coded and entered into vital statistics data files. To identify occupations associated with increased risk for TB mortality, CDC's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) used data from the National Occupational Mortality Surveillance (NOMS) database to conduct a proportionate mortality study of persons with pulmonary TB by occupation for 1979-1990 (the most recent year for which data were available). This report presents the findings of the study.