Conclusions
HCWs working in TB wards had a greater incidence of
developing TB than HCWs without a history of working
in TB wards. However, HCWs working in other hospital
areas also had an increased incidence of TB, as were
HCWs living with HIV. In addition, HCWs working in
the three public hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal had a higher
incidence of TB compared with that of the general
population. While emphasis is placed on TB infection
control measures in TB and MDR-TB wards, these findings
strongly suggest that the risk of TB transmission to
HCWs is occurring throughout hospital settings andinfection control measures should be implemented and
practiced throughout hospitals to protect HCWs from
TB.