PLoS ONE (Jan 2013)

Tuberculin skin test and boosted reactions among newly employed healthcare workers: an observational study.

  • Song Yee Kim,
  • Moo Suk Park,
  • Young Sam Kim,
  • Se Kyu Kim,
  • Joon Chang,
  • Dongeun Yong,
  • Hyun Sook Kim,
  • Kyungwon Lee,
  • Young Ae Kang

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0064563
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8, no. 5
p. e64563

Abstract

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ObjectiveTo evaluate the prevalence of and factors associated with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) based on the tuberculin skin test (TST) and to estimate the boosted reaction rate among newly employed healthcare workers (HCWs).DesignNewly employed HCWs between January 2010 and July 2012 at Severance Hospital in South Korea were enrolled in this study. A one-step TST was conducted before October 2011, and a two-step TST after October 2011.ResultsOf 2132 participants, 778 (36.5%) had positive TST results. Being older (odds ratio [OR] 1.10, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06-1.13, PConclusionsThe prevalence of LTBI based on the TST among newly employed HCWs was high. The boosted reaction rate on two-step TST was not low; therefore, the use of two-step TST may be necessary for regular monitoring in countries with an intermediate TB burden and a high rate of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccination.