• Rabia Sadaf, Tehmina Munir, Sheroze Farrukh, and Saleem Abbasi.
• Rabia Sadaf, Postgraduate Trainee, Department of Microbiology, Army Medical College, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
• Pak J Med Sci. 2020 Jan 1; 36 (2): 198-202.

ObjectiveTo determine the prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in healthcare workers in tertiary care hospitals of Rawalpindi, using interferon gamma release assay.MethodsIt was a cross-sectional study. The samples were collected from pulmonology and microbiology departments of three hospitals; i) Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, ii) Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi and iii) Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad. The study was completed in one year from January 2017 to January 2018. Fifty-five asymptomatic healthcare workers of both genders between the ages of 18-50 years with a working tenure of at least one year in concerned departments were included and those with active tuberculosis were excluded from the study. Whole blood from subjects was collected and plasma was checked for interferon gamma value by IGRA (Interferon gamma release assay).ResultsIn this study of total 55 healthcare workers a high prevalence 22 (40.0%) of latent tuberculosis was found. When LTBI distribution was analyzed within occupational categories, the most frequently affected were sanitary workers 3 (100.0%), nurses 5 (50.0%), doctors 6 (43%) and nursing assistants 2 (40%).ConclusionThe prevalence of LTBI in healthcare workers is alarmingly high in our local healthcare settings.Copyright: © Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences.

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