• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.355-364
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• 2023

Objectives: The objective of the present study was to identify mycobacterial infection in retired dusty workers who were ineligible for medical care benefits for work-related pneumoconiosis. Methods: Sputum samples were collected from 170 retired dusty workers living in Gangwon-do. The mycobacterial culture was grown in 2% Ogawa medium and Mycobacteria Growth Indicator Tube(MGIT). Mycobacterial species were identified using MolecuTech REBA Myco-ID^Ⓡ. Results: Thirty-one(18.2%) out of 170 sputum samples were identified as positive for culture. Among the positive culture samples, eleven(6.5%) were identified as mycobacterial species. The proportion of mycobacteria was M. avium 2.3%(4/170), M. fortuitum complex 1.2%(2/170), M. intracellulare 1.2%(2/170), M. abscessus 0.6%(1/170), M. tuberculosis(MTB) complex 0.6%(1/170), and MYC(NTM except 19 species) 0.6%(1/170). Conclusions: In comparison with previous studies, the incidence rate of tuberculosis(TB) in retired dusty workers who were ineligible for medical care benefits for work-related pneumoconiosis was higher than in close contact with TB patients, workers exposed to silica, and patients with silicosis. And the proportion of non-tuberculosis mycobacteria(NTM) was higher than that of MTB.