Occupational risk to tuberculosis disease among health care workers in an emergency department hospital

Abstract

Tuberculosis is known as an occupational hazard for healthcare workers especially in countries with high cases of tuberculosis (TB). There is an increase incidence of tuberculosis among Ministry of Health Workers in Malaysia. The objective of this study is to identify the main risk factor to tuberculosis among health care workers in an Emergency Department of Hospital XYZ. Currently there is no specific tuberculosis prevention program in this health care facility. Employees are usually given a longer sick leave and it will have a huge impact on the department operations. It will also involve an increase in morbidity and mortality cases. This is quantitative and qualitative study where the data is obtained through observation, questionnaires and interviews. The result findings was based on the observation, questionnaires and interviews and was analysed using Risk Assessment Matrix (HIRARC) to find out what are the main factor that caused tuberculosis infection among health care workers. Through the data obtained the main risk factor is the failure to wear PPE while working followed by other factors such as environmental control and administrative control as there is currently no screening done against all health care workers. It has been proven in this study that the main risk factors are PPE usage and followed by other risk factors such as environmental control and administrative control which causes them to tend to get tuberculosis infection.