https://doi.org/10.4081/monaldi.2024.3075

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

Early Access
Submitted: June 5, 2024
Accepted: July 16, 2024
Published: August 30, 2024
Healthcare workers, tuberculosis, active TB
Abstract Views: 1787
PDF_EARLY VIEW: 242
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Authors

Ravindra Nath
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5082-935X
Department of Community Medicine, TMMC & RC, Teerthanker Mahaveer University, Moradabad, India.
Nitin Panwar
https://orcid.org/0009-0003-5375-8552
Department of Community Medicine, VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India.
Aninda Debnath
anindadebnath@gmail.com
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2117-4195
Department of Community Medicine, VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India.
Anirban Bhaumik
https://orcid.org/0009-0003-9975-5015
Department of Medicine, Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar Medical College and Hospital, New Delhi, India.
Jugal Kishore
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6246-5880
Department of Community Medicine, VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India.
Pranav Ish
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1701-4970
Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India.

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.

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How to Cite

Nath, Ravindra, Nitin Panwar, Aninda Debnath, Anirban Bhaumik, Jugal Kishore, and Pranav Ish. 2024. “Prevalence of Tuberculosis Among Healthcare Workers in India: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis”. Monaldi Archives for Chest Disease, August. https://doi.org/10.4081/monaldi.2024.3075.
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