Risk of tuberculosis to healthcare workers.

The global uRsurge in tuberculosis (TB), fuelled by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pandemic, and the increase in multidrug-resistant (MDR) TB, has made TB a serious occupational hazard for healthcare workers (HCWs) worldwidel", Recent reports have confirmed a significant risk of occupational infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis among HCWS,3,4,5 medical students,6 attendants at autopsy' and community hospital workers', TB transmission usually occurs over a prolonged period in the orders Mdays and months of exposure, Compared to household contacts, HCW exposure is comparatively brief but a HCW can be subjected to multiple exposures in the healthcare setting,