SynthesisBMC public health2026
Prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection among healthcare workers in Saudi Arabia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in BMC public health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundTuberculosis (TB) remains a major global public health concern, and healthcare workers (HCWs) face an elevated risk of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) due to occupational exposure. Estimating prevalence among HCWs is therefore essential for informing infection control strategies. In Saudi Arabia, infection risk may be influenced by the multinational composition of the healthcare workforce and differing baseline TB exposure across countries of origin. Heterogeneous Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination histories may also introduce diagnostic bias in studies relying on the tuberculin skin test (TST). However, existing studies are predominantly single-center or regional, employ heterogeneous diagnostic methods, and report inconsistent prevalence estimates, precluding a national-level synthesis. Accordingly, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate LTBI prevalence among HCWs in Saudi Arabia and to examine factors associated with infection risk.
methodsWe conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines. MEDLINE (via PubMed), Web of Science, Google Scholar, and the Elton B. Stephens Company (EBSCO) databases were searched up to March 2025 (final search conducted in March 2025), without applying a lower date limit, for observational studies reporting LTBI prevalence among adult HCWs in Saudi Arabia. LTBI was diagnosed using tuberculin skin tests or interferon-gamma release assays. Random-effects models were used to estimate pooled prevalence and to derive odds ratios from within-study subgroup comparisons. Pre-specified subgroup analyses explored potential sources of heterogeneity by nationality, occupation, sex, and age. Methodological quality was assessed using the Appraisal Tool for Cross-Sectional Studies (AXIS) and the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies (MINORS).
resultsEleven studies comprising 11,249 HCWs were included. The pooled prevalence of LTBI was 24% (95% CI: 16-33%), with substantial heterogeneity (I
conclusionLTBI remains a significant occupational health concern among HCWs in Saudi Arabia, with higher prevalence observed among non-Saudi staff and nurses. However, the available evidence does not allow these differences to be attributed to specific causes, as key factors such as country of origin, BCG status, and non-occupational exposure were not consistently reported. Strengthened TB control policies, including standardised screening protocols, fit-testing, and consistent protective measures, are needed to improve early detection and reduce transmission risk.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.