Abstract

MUNOZ SANCHEZ, Alba Idaly. Monitoring occupational exposure to tuberculosis in health institutions. Med. segur. trab. [online]. 2016, vol.62, n.244, pp.188-198. ISSN 1989-7790.

Introduction: The tuberculosis control measures in health care facilities are intended to prevent exposure and infection of both healthcare workers and the community. Objective: To identify the adoption of the procedures concerning the occupational exposure control to Mycobacterium tuberculosis agent in two health institutions of Bogotá. Methods: Quantitative, descriptive and cross-sectional study. A collecting data tool -validated by expert judgment- was designed and implemented. Then, an inspection was carried out by an occupational health and safety expert. Results: From 336 health workers who took part, 14% stated that total infection-control plan was socialized. Just 4% received the TB skin test (TST). In both health institutions natural ventilation system was the most common option. Only 39% of healthcare workers received breathing protection devices; 15% took always the fit test to the high efficiency N95 face mask and just 26% used it whenever necessary. Discussion: the health workers do not consider the Mycobacterium tuberculosis agent as a biological threat; therefore no measures to reduce the TB risk infection are implemented. The adoption of guidelines to monitor the TB infection in the health institutions studied is emerging. It is necessary to determine efforts to adjust them and adopt these guidelines in Colombia.

Keywords : Tuberculosis; infection control; health worker; health institutions.

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