NCJ Number
137968
Journal
American Jails Volume: 6 Issue: 2 Dated: (May-June 1992) Pages: 23-26,28
Date Published
1992
Length
5 pages
Annotation
Tuberculosis (TB) has reemerged as a serious health threat, primarily as a result of the spread of AIDS, but also due to delays in diagnosis, poor or inadequate hospital ventilation, and budget cuts in health departments' control programs.
Abstract
Complete, consistent compliance with treatment is critical in controlling TB. Yet because many patients fail to take their medication regularly, new strains of drug- resistant TB are proliferating. High-risk groups for TB include underserved minority groups, IV drug users who become infected with HIV, people exposed to those with TB, immigrants and migrant workers, and elderly people; the first two groups are overrepresented among the prison population. The Centers for Disease Control have set guidelines for screening, diagnosis, isolation measures, prevention, treatment, and followup of TB infection and disease. The Hamilton County (Ohio) Justice Center (HCJC) has one of the most comprehensive and effective TB screening, treatment, and followup programs in the Nation. The program's strength begins with staff training for all nurses. Inmates with no history of testing positive for TB are given a tuberculin skin test with their consent. If reactive, the inmate is evaluated using a chest x-ray, interview, physical exam, and evaluation of laboratory studies. The TB clinic nurses encourage patient compliance with treatment by conducting monthly interviews. Two cooperative programs -- the On-Site TB Clinic and followup care -- link the HCJC and the county TB Control Clinic, to which inmates are referred upon release. 21 notes