Tuberculosis as an occupational hazard in ward workers

The present study was designed to estimate the risk of tuberculosis in ward workers in a tertiary care hospital, Lahore. A total 53 ward workers who had been working in chest medicine and internal medicine wards for the last one year, were assessed. As regards demographics, 34 were male and 19 were female with mean age 34.3 years. Out of these workers, three [5.6%] were diagnosed as case of active tuberculosis and all these workers were male. Sputum AFB microscopy was positive in one case. Nosocomial transmission of tuberculosis is known to occur and this risk is much more common in ward workers than that of general population. So it is concluded that there is a significant increased [P<0.001] risk of tuberculosis in ward workers

Compliance in tuberculous patients at services hospital, Lahore

Five-hundred and thirty-five consecutive patients of tuberculosis attending the Department of Chest Medicine at Allama Iqbal Medical College Hospital were followed up for a period of ten months. All the patients received 3EHRZ/7EHR. Association of compliance with different demographic variables, i.e. socio-economic, occupational and age was assessed. An overall compliance of 49.53% was observed. The end results did not differ much in these variables. In the occupational group, housebound and unemployed showed best compliance of 55.17% while self employed showed the lowest, 30.43% [p value= 0.0738]. Patients in the lower socio-economic class had better compliance, 53%; while middle class had 43.58%, [p value=0.1124]. Compliance was best in 70 years and above, 50%; while lowest in the age group of 0-9 years, 33.33% [p value=0.0635]