Repeat IGRA testing in Canadian health workers: conversions or unexplained variability?
Although North American hospitals are switching from tuberculin testing (TST) to interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs), data are limited on the association between occupational exposure and serial QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT) results in healthcare workers (HCWs).In a cohort of Canadian HCWs,...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2013-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3561382?pdf=render |
| _version_ | 1818874311657652224 |
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| author | Alice Zwerling Andrea Benedetti Mihaela Cojocariu Fiona McIntosh Filomena Pietrangelo Marcel A Behr Kevin Schwartzman Dick Menzies Madhukar Pai |
| author_facet | Alice Zwerling Andrea Benedetti Mihaela Cojocariu Fiona McIntosh Filomena Pietrangelo Marcel A Behr Kevin Schwartzman Dick Menzies Madhukar Pai |
| author_sort | Alice Zwerling |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Although North American hospitals are switching from tuberculin testing (TST) to interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs), data are limited on the association between occupational exposure and serial QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT) results in healthcare workers (HCWs).In a cohort of Canadian HCWs, TST and QFT were performed at study enrolment (TST1 and QFT1) and 1 year later (TST2 and QFT2). Conversion and reversion rates were estimated, and correlation with TB exposure was assessed.Among 258 HCWs, median age was 36.8 years, 188/258 (73%) were female and 183/258 (71%) were Canadian-born. In 245 subjects with a negative QFT1 we found a QFT conversion rate of 5.3% (13/245, 95% CI 2.9-8.9%). Using more stringent definitions, QFT conversion rates ranged from 2.0 to 5.3%. No TST conversions were found among the 241 HCWs with negative TST1, and no measure of recent TB exposure was associated with QFT conversions. In the 13 HCWs with a positive QFT1, 62% reverted.Using the conventional QFT conversion definition, we found a higher than expected rate of conversion. Recent occupational exposures were not associated with QFT conversions, and no TST conversions occurred in this cohort, suggesting the 'conversions' may not reflect new TB infection. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T13:08:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b82d47be2b784770a09f6156e2619425 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T13:08:35Z |
| publishDate | 2013-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-b82d47be2b784770a09f6156e26194252022-12-21T20:19:58ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032013-01-0181e5474810.1371/journal.pone.0054748Repeat IGRA testing in Canadian health workers: conversions or unexplained variability?Alice ZwerlingAndrea BenedettiMihaela CojocariuFiona McIntoshFilomena PietrangeloMarcel A BehrKevin SchwartzmanDick MenziesMadhukar PaiAlthough North American hospitals are switching from tuberculin testing (TST) to interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs), data are limited on the association between occupational exposure and serial QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT) results in healthcare workers (HCWs).In a cohort of Canadian HCWs, TST and QFT were performed at study enrolment (TST1 and QFT1) and 1 year later (TST2 and QFT2). Conversion and reversion rates were estimated, and correlation with TB exposure was assessed.Among 258 HCWs, median age was 36.8 years, 188/258 (73%) were female and 183/258 (71%) were Canadian-born. In 245 subjects with a negative QFT1 we found a QFT conversion rate of 5.3% (13/245, 95% CI 2.9-8.9%). Using more stringent definitions, QFT conversion rates ranged from 2.0 to 5.3%. No TST conversions were found among the 241 HCWs with negative TST1, and no measure of recent TB exposure was associated with QFT conversions. In the 13 HCWs with a positive QFT1, 62% reverted.Using the conventional QFT conversion definition, we found a higher than expected rate of conversion. Recent occupational exposures were not associated with QFT conversions, and no TST conversions occurred in this cohort, suggesting the 'conversions' may not reflect new TB infection.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3561382?pdf=render |
| spellingShingle | Alice Zwerling Andrea Benedetti Mihaela Cojocariu Fiona McIntosh Filomena Pietrangelo Marcel A Behr Kevin Schwartzman Dick Menzies Madhukar Pai Repeat IGRA testing in Canadian health workers: conversions or unexplained variability? PLoS ONE |
| title | Repeat IGRA testing in Canadian health workers: conversions or unexplained variability? |
| title_full | Repeat IGRA testing in Canadian health workers: conversions or unexplained variability? |
| title_fullStr | Repeat IGRA testing in Canadian health workers: conversions or unexplained variability? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Repeat IGRA testing in Canadian health workers: conversions or unexplained variability? |
| title_short | Repeat IGRA testing in Canadian health workers: conversions or unexplained variability? |
| title_sort | repeat igra testing in canadian health workers conversions or unexplained variability |
| url | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3561382?pdf=render |
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