Active and latent tuberculosis in prisoners in the Central-West Region of Brazil

Rev Soc Bras Med Trop. 2013 Jul-Aug;46(4):515-8. doi: 10.1590/0037-8682-1441-2013.

Abstract

Introduction: Jailed populations exhibit high rates of tuberculosis (TB) infection and active disease.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed to estimate the prevalence of latent and active TB and to identify factors associated with latent infection in inmates.

Results: The prevalence of latent TB was 49%, and the prevalence of active TB was 0.4%. The presence of a Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) scar (prevalence ratio (PR)=1.65; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.09-2.50; p=0.0162) and the World Health Organization (WHO) score for active TB in prisons (PR=1.07; 95% CI: 1.01-1.14; p=0.0181) were correlated with infection.

Conclusions: The identification of associated factors and the prevalence of latent and active TB allows the development of plans to control this disease in jails.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Humans
  • Latent Tuberculosis / diagnosis
  • Latent Tuberculosis / epidemiology*
  • Male
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / isolation & purification*
  • Prevalence
  • Prisoners / statistics & numerical data*
  • Risk Factors
  • Tuberculin Test
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / diagnosis
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / epidemiology*
  • Young Adult