Pilot study to detect airborne Mycobacterium tuberculosis exposure in a South African public healthcare facility outpatient clinic
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Date
Authors
Matuka, Onnicah
Singh, Tanusha, S.
Bryce, Elizabeth
Yassi, Annalee
Kgasha, Olga
Zungu, Laszchevon Muzimkhulu
Kyaw, Khin
Malotle, Molebogeng
Renton, Kevin
O’Hara, Lyndsay
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Elsevier
Abstract
BACKGROUND : Airborne transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) remains an
occupational health hazard particularly in crowded and resource limited healthcare settings.
AIM : The study aimed to quantify airborne TB in a busy outpatient clinic in Gauteng, South
Africa.
METHODS : Personal (HCWs) and stationary air samples were collected in the Polyclinic and
Administrative block. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to detect airborne TB.
Walkthrough observations and work practices of HCWs were also recorded.
FINDINGS : TB was detected in 11/49 (22.4%) of the 9/25 (36%) personal and 2/24 (8.3%)
stationary samples. Samples from 5 of 10 doctors (50%) and 3 of 13 nurses (23%) were
positive. Repeat measurements on different days showed variable results. Most of the
HCWs (87.5%) with positive results had been in contact with coughing patients and had not
worr respiratory masks despite been training.
CONCLUSION : The use of air sampling coupled with real-time qPCR is a simple and effective
tool to demonstrate the risk of TB exposure. The findings provide an impetus for hospital
management to strengthen TB infection prevention and control measures.
Description
Keywords
Healthcare workers (HCWs), Infection prevention control, Occupational exposure, Air sampling, Polymerase chain reaction, Tuberculosis (TB), Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB)
Sustainable Development Goals
Citation
Matuka, O, Singh, TS, Bryce, E, Yassi, A, Kgasha, O, Zungu, M, Kyaw, K, Malotle, M, Renton, K & O'Hara, L 2015, 'Pilot study to detect airborne Mycobacterium tuberculosis exposure in a South African public healthcare facility outpatient clinic', Journal of Hospital Infection, vol. 89, no. 3, pp. 192-196.