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Table 1 Infection status versus age, sex, migration, exposure time, and Mantoux status

From: Use of interferon gamma-based assay to diagnose tuberculosis infection in health care workers after short term exposure

Characteristics

New

TST positives

HCWs (n = 27)

Previously defined as TST positive

HCWs (n = 15)

TST negatives HCWs (n = 113)

Healthy Controls

(n = 48)

Age (years, mean (range))

38.9 (22–65)

38.9 (22–65)

38.9 (22–65)

41.4 (20–67)

Sex (female/male)

22/5

12/3

98/15

33/15

Migration

    

1. Born in a low-endemic area

25

12

101

48

2. Worked in a high-endemic area > 6 months

0

0

6

 

3. Born in a high-endemic area

2

2

6

 

Exposure time (≤ 8 h/> 8 h)

20/7

10/4

84/29

 

Mantoux (mm) before exposure (median)

8

 

6/13

5/4

Mantoux (mm) after exposure (median)

19

 

6/6

 

Vesiculous Mantoux after exposure

8

   
  1. *Results in absolute numbers from post-exposure screening of 155 health care workers (HCWs) and 48 healthy controls, 2005–2007. During childhood all participants were either BCG-immunized or had a naturally positive tuberculin skin test (TST). The definition of a positive TST (Mantoux) was an increase of ≥ 10 mm, or of ≥ 15 mm if previous TST status was unknown (in concordance with the national guidelines). Some HCWs had been defined as TST positive during previous post-exposure screenings (15), while others were defined as infected during the current study (27).