Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42824734›Full record

ArticleIJID regions2026

The prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection among healthcare workers in Saudi Arabia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Mohammed Aljabr, Fatima N Boumarah, Yara Mortada, Ghala Alhmidani, Rakan Almutairi, Jory Msood, Noor Alfaraj, Shatha Abohimed, Adel Almaghrbi, Reham Algethami and 3 more

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Article in IJID regions, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Mohammed AljabrCollege of Medicine, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia.
Fatima N BoumarahCollege of Medicine, King Fahad Hospital of the University, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
Yara MortadaCollege of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Ghala AlhmidaniCollege of Medicine, Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Rakan AlmutairiCollege of Medicine, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Jory MsoodCollege of Medicine, Najran University, Najran, Saudi Arabia.
Noor AlfarajCollege of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University Rabigh Branch, Rabigh, Saudi Arabia.
Shatha AbohimedDepartment of Epidemiology, College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Adel AlmaghrbiCollege of Medicine, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.
Reham AlgethamiInternal Medicine, King Faisal Medical Complex, Taif, Saudi Arabia.
Refal AlsaediCollege of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Sadeem Al MaqeetDepartment of Public Health, King Faisal University, Alahsa, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia.
Abdullah AljorayidDepartment of Medicine, College of Medicine, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objectives: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) among healthcare workers (HCWs) in Saudi Arabia and identify key associated risk factors. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, and MEDLINE and Embase (via Ovid) was conducted for studies reporting LTBI prevalence among HCWs in Saudi Arabia. Data were pooled using a random-effects model. Subgroup analyses assessed variations by diagnostic method, professional category, and nationality. Results: The overall pooled prevalence was 24% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 16-34%), with high heterogeneity across studies ( Conclusion: The LTBI burden among HCWs in Saudi Arabia is substantial and largely imported by expatriate workers from high-burden countries, with a possible secondary occupational contribution. TST-IGRA discordance suggests that TST may overestimate prevalence in this bacille Calmette-Guérin-vaccinated population. Based on discordance patterns and supporting evidence, transitioning to IGRA-based screening and implementing targeted surveillance for high-risk groups should be considered.

Indexed as

Healthcare workersLatent tuberculosis infectionOccupational exposurePrevalenceSaudi Arabia

Identifiers

PMID42824734
PMCPMC13627945

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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.