eng Science and Education Publishing American Journal of Epidemiology and Infectious Disease 2333-1275 2022-01-16 10 1 1 6 10.12691/ajeid-10-1-1 AJEID20221011 article Azza A Khattab khattabaz@gmail.com 1 Amira Amine 2 Laila El-Attar 2 Ahmed Tork 3 Alaa Eldin Ali Abdallah 4 Heba Elshair 5 Infection Prevention & Control Department, Dr Erfan and Bagedo General Hospital, Saudi Arabia 2Microbiology Department, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Egypt Chemical Pathology Department, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Egypt Chest Diseases Department, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Egypt Internal Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Egypt Background: Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) that could be converted to active TB constitutes a major public health problem. LTBI diagnosis is based on TST and/or IGRA. Serum IL-2 may help LTBI diagnosis. Objectives: Current study aimed to estimate the prevalence of LTBI among healthcare workers (HCWs), and to test the agreement between IGRA and IL-2 assay for detection of LTBI. Methods: The study was carried in chest hospitals in Egypt, 89 HCWs were included. Detailed medical history was obtained, and a blood sample was collected to measure IFN-¦Ã and IL-2. Results: High prevalence of LTBI was detected among HCWs (41.57%). This was significantly associated with older age and longer duration of work. Doctors were less exposed to the risk of LTBI. Assessing IL-2 results using ROC curve: AUC was 0.984, optimal cut-off value =13.81 pg/ml, with a sensitivity of 94.59% and 100% specificity. IL-2 responses were higher among participants with LTBI compared to No TB. Conclusions: A high prevalence of LTBI was observed among HCWs. Older age and longer duration of work were associated with higher risk. IL-2/IFN-¦Ã ratios may improve the ability of IGRA to identify individuals with LTBI and those at increased risk of conversion to active disease. http://pubs.sciepub.com/ajeid/10/1/1/ajeid-10-1-1.pdf healthcare workers interferon gamma release assays interleukin-2 latent tuberculosis infection