Epidemiological characteristics of pulmonary tuberculosis in medical staff in Chongqing, 2017–2021

Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) in medical staff in Chongqing from 2017 to 2021, and provide evidence for development of effective TB prevention and control measures to reduce the risk of infection in medical staff.

Methods The registration data of pulmonary TB in medical staff in Chongqing from 2017 to 2021 were collected from Tuberculosis Information Management System for a descriptive epidemiological analysis.

Results From 2017 to 2021, a total of 687 pulmonary Tb cases were registered in medical staff in Chongqing, with an average annual registration rate of 61.92/100 000, showing a downward trend (trend χ²=11.246, P<0.05). The proportion of pathogenic positive pulmonary TB cases showed an upward trend (trend χ² =23.608, P<0.05). The registration rate of pulmonary Tb cases during 2020–2021 decreased significantly compared with that during 2017–2019, the difference was significant (χ²=13.024, P<0.05). The highest registration rate of pulmonary TB was 105.16/100 000 in southeast Chongqing, followed by 99.52/100 000 in northeast Chongqing. The differences in registration rate of pulmonary TB in medical staff in different areas were significant (χ²=162.348, P<0.05). In the 687 cases, the median age was 29.00 years. The cases in age group 25–34 years accounted for the highest proportion (50.51%), followed by that in age group <25 years (20.23%). The majority of the cases in age group <60 years were women (74.25%), and in age group ≥60 years the majority of the cases were men (84.21%), the difference was significant (χ²=31.767, P<0.05). The age group <25 years had the highest registration rate (131.79/100 000), followed by age group 25–34 years (68.68/100 000), and the registration rate showed a downward trend with age (trend χ²=82.956, P<0.05).

Conclusion From 2017 to 2021, the annual registration rate of pulmonary TB in medical staff in Chongqing showed a downward trend, but it was higher than that in whole population in Chongqing. The incidence of pulmonary TB had varied time, area and population distributions in the medical staff. Attention should be paid to the prevention and control of pulmonary TB in medical staff in Chongqing.