High prevalence and risk factors associated with latent tuberculous infection in two Colombian prisons

ABSTRACT : Setting: Two prisons in Medellín and Itagüí, Colombia. Objective: To determine the prevalence of tuberculin skin test (TST) positivity in prisoners and the annual risk of tuberculous infection (ARTI), to identify risk factors associated with a positive result, and to describe progression to active disease. Design: Cross-sectional study. Inmates were included if time of incarceration was ⩾1 year and excluded if subjects had had previous or active tuberculosis (TB), or conditions that could hamper TST administration or interpretation. Results: We screened 1014 inmates. The overall prevalence of TST positivity was 77.6%. The first TST administration resulted in 66% positivity, and the second TST an additional 11.6%. In Prison One, the ARTI was 5.09% in high TB incidence cell blocks and 2.72% in low TB incidence blocks. In Prison Two, the ARTI was 2.77%. Risk factors associated with TST positivity were history of previous incarceration and length of incarceration. Among all those included in the study, four individuals developed active pulmonary TB. Conclusion: Prevalence of TST positivity in prisoners and the ARTI were higher than in the general population, but differed between prisons; it is important to apply a second TST to avoid an overestimation of converters during follow-up.

• Autores: Rueda Vallejo, Zulma Vanessa; Arroyave Echeverry, Luisa Fernanda; Marín Pineda, Diana Marcela; López López, Lucelly; Keinan, Yoav; Giraldo, Margarita Rosa; Pulido, Henry; Arbeláez Montoya, María Patricia
• Tipo de recurso: Article of investigation
• Fecha de publicación: 2014
• Institución: Universidad de Antioquia
• Repositorio: Repositorio UdeA
• Idioma: eng
• OAI Identifier: oai:bibliotecadigital.udea.edu.co:10495/26498
• Acceso en línea: http://hdl.handle.net/10495/26498
• Palabra clave: Estudios Transversales; Cross-Sectional Studies; Tuberculosis Latente; Latent Tuberculosis; Prisiones; Prisons; Factores de Riesgo; Risk Factors; Prevalencia; Prevalencia; Prueba de Tuberculina; Tuberculin Test
• Rights: openAccess
• License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/co/