BMJ Open
Volume 6, Issue 10, 2016

Prevalence and predictors of latent tuberculosis infection among Italian State Policemen engaged in assistance to migrants: A national cross-sectional study (Article) (Open Access)

Durando P. , Garbarino S. , Orsi A.* , Alicino C. , Dini G. , Toletone A. , Ciprani F. , Conte G. , Santorsa R. , Icardi G.
  • a Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy, IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST, Genoa, Italy
  • b Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy, State Police Health Service Department, Ministry of Interior, Rome, Italy
  • c Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy, IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST, Genoa, Italy
  • d Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
  • e Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
  • f Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
  • g State Police Health Service Department, Ministry of Interior, Rome, Italy
  • h State Police Health Service Department, Ministry of Interior, Rome, Italy
  • i State Police Health Service Department, Ministry of Interior, Rome, Italy
  • j Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy, IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST, Genoa, Italy

Abstract

Objectives: Better knowledge about tuberculosis (TB) and latent TB infection (LTBI) epidemiology is a crucial step for the development of effective strategies towards the control and elimination of this deadliest and persistent health threat. No study has investigated LTBI epidemiology in policemen who act as an interface with cross-border migrants. Methods: A survey to measure the LTBI prevalence and assess the demographic, professional and clinical features potentially associated with tuberculin skin test (TST) positivity was performed in Italian State Police (ISP) employees engaged, even occasionally, in relief activities, hospitality, photographical identification, escorting and accompanying of migrants, regardless of contact with active TB cases. Variables potentially associated with TST positivity were evaluated with univariate and multivariate analysis. Results: From September to December 2014, 4225 ISP workers underwent TST screening and completed the questionnaire for data collection, according to study procedures. The TST was positive in 9.9% of individuals: no active TB cases were registered among the entire study population. Age, previous BCG vaccination and work category resulted independently associated with TST positivity. Conclusions: This is the first study providing updated data about LTBI epidemiology among ISP employees engaged in assistance to migrants and furnish preliminary evidence of possible associations between TST positivity and different conditions that need to be deeply investigated with prospective studies.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

information processing prospective study cooperation transmission clinical feature occupational disease human clinical assessment Prospective Studies middle aged Mycobacterium tuberculosis Occupational Diseases BCG vaccine employee screening test Helping Behavior Cross-Sectional Studies epidemiological data Surveys and Questionnaires cross-sectional study migrant Humans male Italian (citizen) latent tuberculosis heterozygote occupational exposure female police BCG vaccination questionnaire prevalence Article major clinical study tuberculin test adult migration microbiology Italy Transients and Migrants disease association Carrier State tuberculin health survey
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84993972015&doi=10.1136%2fbmjopen-2016-012011&partnerID=40&md5=fd7ff92781cc0a3275d86a739af235eb
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-012011
ISSN: 20446055
Original Language: English