[The present status and the task of nosocomial tuberculosis infection in Japan].

The present study aimed to assess the status of preventive measures for nosocomial tuberculosis infection and the incidence of tuberculosis among hospital workers in Japan. Data were collected using two types of questionnaires submitted to 333 hospitals with tuberculosis beds and 247 hospitals without tuberculosis beds. The incidence of tuberculosis among hospital workers was assessed for the period from 1992 to 1996. Handling of the tuberculin test and BCG vaccination at the time of employment was inadequate. Environmental management of the workplace in laboratories and tuberculosis wards was also in adequent. Regarding the incidence of tuberculosis among hospital workers, nurses at hospitals with tuberculosis beds had the highest incidence especially those in their twenties to thirties. Considering these findings, improvement of the prevention of tuberculosis infection in hospitals is important.