Original Articles
31 July 2025
Vol. 47 No. 1 (2025)
https://doi.org/10.4081/gimle.723

Prevalence of tuberculosis skin test positivity among healthcare workers: results of an observational study

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Screening, Mantoux, QuantiFERON®-TB Gold, latent infection
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Authors

Corrado Colaprico
Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
Gloria Deriu
Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
Mario Falciano
Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
Aurelia Gaeta
Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
Lilia Cinti
Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
Piergiorgio Roberto
Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
Pasquale Serruto
Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
Carolina Andreoni
Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
Guido Antonelli
Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
Claudio Maria Mastroianni
Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
Giuseppe La Torre
giuseppe.latorre@uniroma1.it
Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.

Background. Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by the bacillus Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at risk of becoming infected and, in turn, becoming contagious. The aim of our study was to assess the prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) among HCWs and to identify associated factors, with the goal of defining the specific residual risk within work environments.

Methods. The data from the health surveillance of HCWs between January 2017 and January 2020 were collected at the Policlinico Umberto I Hospital in Rome and used to assess the prevalence of LTBI through purified protein derivative (PPD) and interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) tests (QuantiFERON®-TB Gold).

Results. Out of 3,102 HCWs, the PPD was positive in 431 subjects (13.9%); however, out of 479 operators undergoing TB Gold, 42.8% were positive. The risk of testing positive for LTBI increased with age, particularly in the nursing profession and, in subjects over 50, among technicians.

Conclusions. Our study identified a relatively high prevalence of LTBI, confirming that the risk among HCWs is higher than in the general population. Furthermore, the PPD test, despite having low specificity, can be considered a first-level screening tool in Italian hospitals, with positive results requiring confirmation by IGRA tests.

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How to Cite



Prevalence of tuberculosis skin test positivity among healthcare workers: results of an observational study. (2025). Giornale Italiano Di Medicina Del Lavoro Ed Ergonomia, 47(1). https://doi.org/10.4081/gimle.723
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