Tuberculosis in hospital environment: clinical profile in a tertiary hospital from Ceará and level of knowledge of health personnel about control measures

Abstract

(TB) and to assess the knowledge of health personnel on fundamental concepts about TB and control measures for pulmonary tuberculosis in a hospital environment. Methods: The study was conducted in a tertiary hospital in Fortaleza-CE and involved patients admitted with TB and health professionals responsible for assistance. A first phase was characterized by a retrospective study of medical records of patients admitted with suspected TB. In a second stage, a cross-sectional study with application of a structured questionnaire assessed the knowledge of health personnel on TB control measures in a hospital environment. Results: Sixty-seven patients admitted with suspected TB had their medical records assessed. Among the confirmed cases, the most frequent clinical form was pulmonary (81.3%). Out of 55 patients admitted with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis, only 29 (52.7%) were admitted in a respiratory isolation bed. Twenty-six patients with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis on admission stayed a total of 148 days out of a respiratory isolation bed (average 4.1 days / patient). The knowledge of 159 health professionals about TB was assessed. Regarding the transmission of TB, 107 (67.2%) were unaware of airborne transmission and 109 (68.5%) ignored the clinical forms that require respiratory isolation. Conclusions: Pulmonary tuberculosis is the most frequent clinical form among inpatients in a tertiary hospital in Fortaleza- CE. Considerable fraction of health personnel doesn’t know key concepts related to tuberculosis and essential for the proper and safe care.