The results of recent molecular epidemiologic studies give reason to believe that the risk of tuberculosis for healthcare workers was underestimated in the past. An extensive literature review concerning the risk of tuberculosis for healthcare workers was done. Taken into consideration were all German studies and international studies from regions with a low tuberculosis prevalence. Special emphasis was given to fingerprint studies. From the studies using fingerprinting it can be concluded that the proportion of new infections of all tuberculosis cases is higher (30-40%) than previously believed (10%). Besides institutions treating patients with tuberculosis or laboratories examining smears for tuberculosis, an elevated risk for tuberculosis can be assumed for paramedics, the staff in emergency rooms, and professionals working with members of high-risk groups (homeless people, drug addicts, immigrants from regions with a high prevalence of tuberculosis). As these workers are in future assumed to be at increased risk for tuberculosis, putative claims of an occupational disease will be decided without proof of a source of infection (e.g. a patient with tuberculosis).