Latent tuberculosis infection and COVID-19 infection in health personnel at a second level hospital

Abstract

Introduction: Perú historically has a high incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis, which was directly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Health workers are a population exposed to both diseases, therefore the objective of the study was to describe the characteristics of latent tuberculosis infection and hisassociation with COVID-19 infection in this population. Materials
and Methods: Cross-sectional analytical study in workers who underwent LTBI studies and who suffered from COVID-19 during the period from October 2020 to December 2020 in a second level care hospital in the Callao region. Results: 383 health workers were included; the female sex was predominant (68%), the average age was 39 years and the most evaluated occupations were doctors (25.1%), followed by nursing technicians (20.4%). The LTBI prevalence rate was 43.3%, the jobs with the highest prevalence were medical technologists (64.9%) and nursing technicians (52.6%). In the evaluated group, the rate of infection by COVID-19 was 55% and the were no association between LTBI and COVID-19. Conclusions: Latent tuberculosis infection has a high prevalence in health workers. There is no statistical association between having LTBI and COVID-19 infection.