Could Mycobacterium leprae Infection Be an Occupational Disease? A Survey in Healthcare Workers From an Endemic Area in the Amazonian Region

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2015 Dec;36(12):1464-6. doi: 10.1017/ice.2015.224. Epub 2015 Oct 12.

Abstract

A serologic survey was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of Mycobacterium leprae infection among healthcare workers and associated factors. Of 280 workers, 26 (9.3%) were positive using immunoglobulin M serology for PGL-I M. leprae antigen. Exposure to leprosy patients in the workplace was significantly associated with seropositivity (P=.044).

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • Cross Infection / epidemiology*
  • Cross Infection / microbiology*
  • Cross Infection / transmission
  • Endemic Diseases
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Health Personnel
  • Health Surveys
  • Hospitals, Teaching
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin M
  • Leprosy / blood
  • Leprosy / epidemiology*
  • Leprosy / transmission*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mycobacterium leprae / immunology
  • Occupational Diseases / blood
  • Occupational Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Occupational Diseases / microbiology*
  • Prevalence

Substances

  • Immunoglobulin M