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European policies on tuberculosis prevention in healthcare workers: Which role for BCG? A systematic review.

ABSTRACT: National recommendations regarding the immunization of healthcare workers (HCWs) against tuberculosis differ throughout Europe. We searched multiple sources to identify legal acts, guidelines or papers addressing European national policies on BCG immunization for HCWs. For each policy, we reviewed the criteria used to recommend immunization, their level of evidence, the evidence supporting them and the actions required in cases of refusal. Four legal acts, 15 policies and 6 papers from 14 European countries met the inclusion criteria. Among European national agencies, 5 only recommend the immunization of HCWs employed in high-risk sectors, highlighting the lack of evidence of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) efficacy in HCWs; 5 recommend BCG vaccination for all previously unvaccinated Mantoux-negative HCWs, underlining that some studies provide arguments of some BCG efficacy in HCWs; and four do not recommend the vaccine. Different interpretations of existing evidence on BCG efficacy and the demographics of HCWs may have influenced national policies.

SUBMITTER: Bo M

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5137543 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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European policies on tuberculosis prevention in healthcare workers: Which role for BCG? A systematic review.

Bo Marco M Zotti Carla Maria CM

Human vaccines & immunotherapeutics 20160707 11

National recommendations regarding the immunization of healthcare workers (HCWs) against tuberculosis differ throughout Europe. We searched multiple sources to identify legal acts, guidelines or papers addressing European national policies on BCG immunization for HCWs. For each policy, we reviewed the criteria used to recommend immunization, their level of evidence, the evidence supporting them and the actions required in cases of refusal. Four legal acts, 15 policies and 6 papers from 14 Europe ...[more]

PMID: 27388449

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Project description:Tuberculosis remains a leading cause of death worldwide. Transmission is the dominant mechanism sustaining the multidrug-resistant tuberculosis epidemic. Tuberculosis infection prevention and control (TBIPC) guidelines for healthcare facilities are poorly implemented. This systematic review aimed to explore the barriers and facilitators of implementation of TBIPC guidelines in low- and middle-income countries from the perspective of healthcare workers. Two separate reviewers carried out an electronic database search to select qualitative and quantitative studies exploring healthcare workers attitudes towards TBIPC. Eligible studies underwent thematic synthesis. Derived themes were further organised into a macro-, meso- and micro-level framework, which allows us to analyse barriers at different levels of the healthcare system. We found that most studies focused on assessing implementation within facilities in accordance with the hierarchy of TBIPC measures-administrative, environmental and respiratory protection controls. TBIPC implementation was over-estimated by self-report compared with what researchers observed within facilities, indicating a knowledge-action gap. Macro-level barriers included the lack of coordination of integrated HIV/tuberculosis care, in the context of an expanding antiretroviral therapy programme and hence increasing opportunity for nosocomial acquisition of tuberculosis; a lack of funding; and ineffective occupational health policies, such as poor systems for screening for tuberculosis amongst healthcare workers. Meso-level barriers included little staff training to implement programmes, and managers not understanding policy sufficiently to translate it into an IPC programme. Most studies reported micro-level barriers including the impact of stigma, work culture, lack of perception of risk, poor supply and use of respirators and difficulty sensitising patients to the need for IPC. Existing literature on healthcare workers' attitudes to TBIPC focusses on collecting data about poor implementation at facility level. In order to bridge the knowledge-action gap, we need to understand how best to implement policy, taking account of the context.

Project description:ObjectivesDiabetes is a growing global health concern. International guidelines recommend referral to diabetes prevention programmes (DPPs) for those at high risk of type 2 diabetes. However, many of those eligible to participate in DPPs are not referred. Healthcare workers (HCWs) are pivotal to the referral processes. This study aimed to identify, appraise and synthesise barriers and facilitators to referral to DPPs from the perspective of HCWs.DesignSystematic review using the best-fit framework synthesis.Data sourcesMEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsychINFO, Web of Science and Scopus were searched from January 1997 to July 2023.Eligibility criteriaQualitative, quantitative and mixed methods primary studies exploring HCWs' perspectives of barriers and facilitators to referral to DPPs.Data extraction and synthesisOne author screened, extracted and appraised the literature while a second author independently verified at least a 20% sample at each stage. Quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. The best-fit framework approach was used to synthesise the evidence with the Theoretical Domains Framework as the a priori framework.ResultsOf 9998 studies identified, 31 met the inclusion criteria, with a further six identified from reference and citation searching. Barriers and facilitators were coded to 11 of the 14 TDF domains and to another category 'Expectation of Patient Barriers'. The most frequently occurring domains for both barriers and facilitators were Environmental Context and Resources, Expectation of Patient Barriers and Knowledge. HCWs felt that clear easy referral pathways to the programmes and additional staff or resources were essential to improve referral. HCWs' were concerned that attending the DPP would place a (time and/or financial) burden on their patients which left them conflicted about referral. HCWs lacked knowledge of the effectiveness, availability and accessibility of DPPs.ConclusionsFuture strategies to improve referral to DPPs should include clear referral pathways and the resourcing of referral. Strategies are also needed to build awareness of DPPs and to address concerns among HCWs about their patients.

Project description:INTRODUCTION:Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.TB) and other species of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. Globally, TB is ranked as the ninth leading cause of death and the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent. The bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine has been used globally since 1921 for the prevention of TB in humans, and was derived from an attenuated strain of Mycobacterium bovis. Evidence from previous randomised trials show that the efficacy of primary BCG vaccination against pulmonary TB ranged from no protection to very high protection. In addition, some studies suggest a benefit of BCG revaccination. For example, a recent trial conducted in South Africa showed that BCG revaccination of adolescents could reduce the risk of TB infection by half. However, we are not aware of any recent systematic reviews of the effects of BCG revaccination. Thus, the need for this systematic review of the effects of BCG revaccination on protection against TB infection and disease. METHOD AND ANALYSIS:We will search PubMed, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EMBASE, WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform and reference lists of relevant publications for potentially eligible studies. We will screen search outputs, select eligible studies, extract data and assess risk of bias in duplicate. Discrepancies will be resolved by discussion and consensus or arbitration. We will use the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation method to assess the certainty of the evidence. The planned systematic review was registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) in August 2018. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION:Publicly available data will be used, hence no formal ethical approval will be required for this review. The findings of the review will be disseminated through conference presentations and publication in an open-access peer-reviewed journal. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER:CRD42018105916.

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European policies on tuberculosis prevention in healthcare workers: Which role for BCG? A systematic review.

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European policies on tuberculosis prevention in healthcare workers: Which role for BCG? A systematic review.

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