Screening for latent tuberculosis infection among healthcare workers at recruitment in a country with a low incidence of tuberculosis: a retrospective study
Tuberculosis (TB) affects 10 million people worldwide and causes 1.5 million deaths annually, making it the leading infectious cause of death worldwide.(1) An estimated 25% of the global population is affected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and about 10% of those with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) will develop active TB during their lifetime.(1,2) The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends systematic testing and treatment of health care workers (HCWs) for LTBI in countries with a low incidence TB rate (less than 100 per 100 000 inhabitants), though the evidence supporting this recommendation is limited.
