ReviewLe infezioni in medicina2024
Prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in healthcare workers in Latin America and the Caribbean: systematic review and meta-analysis.
Review in Le infezioni in medicina, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.
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Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed.
- Seven-year surveillance of latent tuberculosis infection using interferon-gamma release assay among health workers at a large tertiary hospital in Thailand.Journal of occupational medicine and toxicology (London, England) · 2026Article
- Series 2: Invisible Threats: A Global Scoping Review of Risk Factors for Tuberculosis Infection.Tropical medicine and infectious disease · 2026Review
- Comparison of Tuberculosis Exposure Frequency and Latent Tuberculosis Infection Rates Among Healthcare Workers by Occupational Classification.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Article
- Managing tuberculosis infection among migrants from high-incidence tuberculosis countries: challenges, strategies and recommendations.European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology · 2026Review
- Symptom-Based Active Tuberculosis Screening in Two Nigerian Correctional Facilities: A Cross-Sectional Study.Le infezioni in medicina · 2025Article
- Association of clinical laboratory parameters with latent tuberculosis infection among healthcare workers of primary health centers-A cross-sectional observational study.PLOS global public health · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background: Tuberculosis remains a significant global health concern, and healthcare workers (HCWs) face a high risk of acquiring latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) through occupational exposure. In the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region, where the burden of tuberculosis is substantial, understanding the prevalence of LTBI among HCWs is crucial for effective infection control measures. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the prevalence of LTBI among HCWs in LAC countries. Methods: Our search included MEDLINE, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases, focusing on relevant English-language records. We looked for observational studies from inception until December 2023. Results: Our analysis included 38 studies representing 15,236 HCWs and 6,728 LTBI cases. These studies spanned the period from 1994 to 2023 and were conducted in Brazil, Peru, Cuba, Colombia, Trinidad and Tobago, Mexico, and Chile. The mean prevalence of LTBI among HCWs was 35.32% (range 17.86-56.00%) for interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) and 43.67% (range 6.68-70.29%) for tuberculin skin test (TST). The pooled prevalence of LTBI among HCWs was 34.5% (95% CI 25.4-44.1%) for IGRA and 43.0% (95% CI 35.5-50.7%) for TST. When considering both IGRA and TST tests, the overall prevalence of LTBI among HCWs was 40.98% (95% CI 34.77-47.33%). LTBI was associated with longer lengths of employment and exposure to patients, family members, or any person with TB. Additionally, older HCWs faced a higher risk of LTBI. Specific professional roles (such as nurses, nurse technicians, or physicians), smoking, and deficient TB infection control measures increased the likelihood of LTBI. However, information regarding gender and BCG vaccination status showed discordance among studies. Conclusion: Our findings underscore a substantial burden of LTBI among HCWs in LAC countries. Implementing adequate infection control measures is essential to prevent and control transmission within healthcare settings.
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