Becoming safe for staff: Hosp records drop in TB infection

Authorities attribute it to stringent control norms, better nutrition for doctors and nurses

MUMBAI: The Group of Tuberculosis Hospitals (GTB), Sewri, the country’s biggest facility to treat the disease, has managed to reduce transmission rates for the disease among its staff in the past six years.

The high number of TB cases among hospital staff was worrying as doctors and other staff were reluctant to work there.

In 2014, six doctors, including four psychiatrists and two chest physicians, refused to join GTB. While the doctors did not cite any specific reason, hospital authorities had said that fear of infection could have been the reason.

Information obtained through a Right to Information (RTI) Act shows that the number of staff members, who contacted the disease, has reduced.

A total of 32 staff members were infected with TB in 2013, out of which, 10 died. One new case has been reported in 2018, revealed a query filed by RTI activist Chetan Kothari.

Senior doctors from the hospital said stringent implementation of infection control norms and nutritious food options for the staff has helped reduce TB cases. “We have scaled up the infection control norms in the past four years. The staff started wearing a good quality N95 mask and we ask patients to wear surgical masks,” said Dr Lalit Anande, medical superintendent, TB hospital, Sewri.

He said a special out-patient department for the hospital staff ensured early diagnosis among health workers. “We have an OPD every three months only for the staff and their family,” he added. Doctorssaidhealthworkers

at the hospital are exposed to TB cases directly and so have higher chance of developing the infection compared to others.

A 2017 study published in the International Journal of Medical and Health Research found that 12% of the TB cases were among healthcare workers in the age group of 49 and 58 years — with more men developing the condition compared to women.