Nosocomial Transmission of Tuberculosis
Authors: Susan A. Maloney
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1995)

Letters1 October 1995Nosocomial Transmission of TuberculosisSusan A. Maloney, MD, Michele L. Pearson, MD, and William R. Jarvis, MDSusan A. Maloney, MDCenters for Disease Control and Prevention; Atlanta, GA 30333Search for more papers by this author, Michele L. Pearson, MDCenters for Disease Control and Prevention; Atlanta, GA 30333Search for more papers by this author, and William R. Jarvis, MDCenters for Disease Control and Prevention; Atlanta, GA 30333Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-123-7-199510010-00016 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail IN RESPONSE:Dr. Sepkowitz questions our finding of decreased tuberculosis transmission to health care workers because hospital-wide skin-test conversion rates and those among health care workers with direct patient contact did not differ statistically between the preintervention and intervention periods. However, neither of these rates is a sensitive indicator of health care workers' risk for infection; stable hospital-wide rates may be erroneously interpreted as lack of tuberculosis transmission. Job-and ward-specific conversion rates are essential for monitoring tuberculosis transmission to workers in health care settings. After implementation of control measures, conversion rates significantly decreased among health care workers assigned to wards ...References1. Maloney SA, Pearson ML, Gordon MT, Del Castillo R, Boyle JF, Jarvis WR. Efficacy of control measures in preventing nosocomial transmission of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis to patients and health care workers. Ann Intern Med. 1995; 122:90-5. Google Scholar2. Wenger PN, Otten J, Breeden A, Orfas D, Beck-Sague CM, Jarvis WR. Control of nosocomial transmission of multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis among healthcare workers and HIV-infected patients. Lancet. 1995; 345:235-40. Google Scholar3. Blumberg HM, Watkins DL, Berschling JD, Antle A, Moore P, White N, et al. Preventing the nosocomial transmission of tuberculosis. Ann Intern Med. 1995; 122:658-63. Google Scholar4. Guidelines for preventing the transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in health-care facilities. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 1994; 43(RR-13):1-132. Google Scholar5. Jarvis WR, Bolyard EA, Bozzi CJ, Burwen DR, Dooley SW, Martin LS. Respirators, recommendations, and regulations: the controversy surrounding protection of health care workers from tuberculosis. Ann Intern Med. 1995; 122:142-6. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Atlanta, GA 30333 PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics 1 October 1995Volume 123, Issue 7Page: 552-553KeywordsDirectly observed therapyHealth careHealth care facilitiesHealth care providersInfectious disease controlPrevention, policy, and public healthRespiratory system proceduresTuberculosis Issue Published: 1 October 1995 CopyrightCopyright © 1995 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF DownloadLoading ...