Prevalence of tuberculosis among healthcare workers in India: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) poses a significant occupational hazard for healthcare workers (HCWs) in India, a country bearing a substantial portion of the global TB burden. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to determine the prevalence of TB among HCWs in India. Analyzing ten studies up to 2024, we found a pooled prevalence of 2391.6 cases per 100,000 individuals, underscoring the critical occupational risk. Factors contributing to this high prevalence include inadequate ventilation, insufficient personal protective equipment, and frequent exposure to multidrug-resistant TB strains. Our findings emphasize the urgent need for stringent infection control measures, routine TB screening, and comprehensive educational programs. Policy recommendations include developing national TB screening guidelines and improving healthcare infrastructure. Protecting HCWs is crucial to achieving India's goal of TB elimination by 2025.

Keywords

• Healthcare workers
• tuberculosis
• active TB