Increasing Incidence of Tuberculosis in a Prison Inmate Population

• NCJ Number: 134174
• Journal: Journal of the American Medical Association Volume: 261 Issue: 3 Dated: (January 20, 1989) Pages: 393-397
• Author(s): M M Braun; B I Truman; B Maguire; G T DiFerdinando Jr; G Wormser; R Broaddus; D L Morse
• Date Published: 1989
• Length: 5 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study identified reported cases of tuberculosis that occurred in the New York State Department of Correctional Services system between 1976 and 1986, and then evaluated HIV serostatus or the presence of AIDS in these inmates. Inmates with TB were compared with a matched control group to determine factors associated with TB.

Abstract

The researchers determined phage types of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates to evaluate the extent of endogenous reactivation versus intraprison transmission. The findings showed that 56 percent of inmates with TB reported in 1985 and 1986 had AIDS or HIV infection; none were known to be HIV seronegative. In the case control study, inmates who reported street drug use were more likely to develop TB. Although most cases were believed to be due to reactivation of latent infection, there was evidence of intraprison transmission in at least one cluster of three cases, highlighting the need for the reinforcement of TB control measures in prison settings. 2 tables, 2 figures, and 23 references