Workplace pulmonary tuberculosis case detection in Mansoura City and neighborhood villages

Abstract

Abstract Context Tuberculosis (TB) represents a high burden in workplaces. Aims Therefore, the aim of this study was to detect pulmonary TB cases in the workplace and assess the associated risk factors. Settings and design This cross section study was carried out from January 2011 to December 2013. This study included 253 participants recruited from Mansoura City and neighborhood villages Dakahlia Governorate. The catchment areas and occupational categories were determined according to a 1-year retrospective study reviewing hospital records. Participants and methods All participants were subjected to the following: (a) assessment of sociodemographic data, occupational data, and risk factors for TB. (b) Clinical examination. (c) Screening by chest radiography, the tuberculin skin test, and sputum Ziehl–Neelsen stain. (d) Assessment of knowledge of TB. Data were analyzed using statistical package for the social sciences, version 15. Qualitative data were presented as number and percentage. Comparison between groups was carried out using the χ2-test. Results Most participants were younger than 35 years of age, men, smokers, married, and with low educational and monthly income. Silica-related occupations were the most common. History of Bacillus Calmette–Guérin vaccination was not found among TB participants and was found in only 8.9% of non-TB participants. The majority of participants reported 8 working hours with no use of protective tools. The TB participants had significantly lower knowledge scores than nontuberculous participants. A total of 136 out of 148 participants had a positive tuberculin skin test. Chest radiography indicated an abnormality in six out of 253 participants and five of these were positive for sputum Ziehl–Neelsen. Conclusion TB screening in workplaces is mandatory because it can identify asymptomatic cases with active TB. A poor knowledge score may be considered a risk factor for TB infection in the workplace.