The elevated risk of tuberculosis faced by HCWs3,14 was highlighted by
recent tuberculosis outbreaks in hospitals.15,16 Some studies found that
HCWs were up to three times more likely to acquire tuberculosis than
the general population.9 The risk of tuberculosis disease is even greater
in HCWs who are co-infected with HIV.4,13 The estimated incidence of
hospitalisation of HCWs for multiple drug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis
was 64.8/100 000 compared with 11.9/100 000 for the general
population. Similarly, the estimated incidence of hospitalisation of HCWs
for extensively drug-resistant (XDR) tuberculosis was 7.2/100 000
compared with 1.1/100 000 for the general population.5 Therefore, HCWs
may be 6-7 times more likely to contract drug-resistant tuberculosis
than the general population.
Hepatitis B is known to be 100% more infectious than HIV.7,17 The
World Health Organization18 (WHO) estimates that 40% of hepatitis
B and C cases, compared to 2.5% of HIV cases, in HCWs worldwide,
could be attributed to occupational exposure to blood-borne infections.
Furthermore, hepatitis B is endemic in South Africa, causing an