PREVALENCE OF TUBERCULOSIS INFECTION IN HEALTH AND OFFICE WORKERS AT URMIA UNIVERSITY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES.

Tuberculosis as one of the most important infectious diseases in the world is considered lethal. About a third of the world is infected by Mycobacterium Tuberculosis. 95 percent of cases and 98 percent risks of death from tuberculosis occur in developing countries. This study investigated the prevalence of Tuberculosis infection among health workers and office workers in Urmia University of Medical Sciences.

Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study with analytical aims was conducted in 2008. 299 health workers from the educational hospitals of Urmia (Imam Khomeini, Motahari, and Taleghani) and 110 office staff were selected through menu sampling step into a class were studied. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and Pearson Chi-square test.

Results: The prevalence of tuberculosis infection in health workers was 37.5% and office staff 18%. Statistically compared in terms of infection was different in two groups. There was no significant association in TB infection prevalence between medical staff with high and low exposure. Between the hours of practice per week, history of BCG vaccination, BCG Oscar size, sex and size of PPD diameter there was no significant association. There was statistically significant correlation between increasing experience of practice in the health care system and PPD adoration size.

Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the prevalence of tuberculosis infection in health workers compared with general staff was high, this difference was statistically significant.