TY - JOUR
T1 - Management of Tuberculosis in the Texas Prison System
AU - Baillargeon, Jacques
AU - Kelley, Michael
AU - Lichtenstein, Michael J.
AU - Jenson, Hal B.
AU - Linthicum, Lannette
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2016 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2002/4
Y1 - 2002/4
N2 - Prison inmates are at increased risk of tuberculosis (TB) compared to the general population. A number of TB outbreaks have been reported in correctional settings, some of which have spread to the general community. The purpose of the present study was to describe the incidence of TB and the patterns of treatment in the Texas prison system. The incidence of TB in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) prison population during a 12-month period was 27 cases per 100,000 inmates. In general, this rate persisted across each of the sociodemographic groups under study, but was 15-fold greater among HIV-infected inmates (395 cases per 100,000). Overall, 59% of the sample were prescribed antitubercular therapy for at least the defined standard duration; 45% were prescribed anti-TB therapy for longer than the standard duration; ethambutol was included in the initial therapy among 95% of inmates treated with anti-TB therapy; and approximately 33% were prescribed pyrazinamide for a period of less than 56 days. Approximately 36% of the study sample began antitubercular pharmacotherapy prior to incarceration, while 7% were released from prison prior to completion of their therapy. In view of previously reported prison-to-general-community TB transmission, understanding TB prevalence and treatment patterns in correctional settings holds clinical and public health relevance beyond the prison setting.
AB - Prison inmates are at increased risk of tuberculosis (TB) compared to the general population. A number of TB outbreaks have been reported in correctional settings, some of which have spread to the general community. The purpose of the present study was to describe the incidence of TB and the patterns of treatment in the Texas prison system. The incidence of TB in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) prison population during a 12-month period was 27 cases per 100,000 inmates. In general, this rate persisted across each of the sociodemographic groups under study, but was 15-fold greater among HIV-infected inmates (395 cases per 100,000). Overall, 59% of the sample were prescribed antitubercular therapy for at least the defined standard duration; 45% were prescribed anti-TB therapy for longer than the standard duration; ethambutol was included in the initial therapy among 95% of inmates treated with anti-TB therapy; and approximately 33% were prescribed pyrazinamide for a period of less than 56 days. Approximately 36% of the study sample began antitubercular pharmacotherapy prior to incarceration, while 7% were released from prison prior to completion of their therapy. In view of previously reported prison-to-general-community TB transmission, understanding TB prevalence and treatment patterns in correctional settings holds clinical and public health relevance beyond the prison setting.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84990339202&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84990339202&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/107834580200900108
DO - 10.1177/107834580200900108
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84990339202
SN - 1078-3458
VL - 9
SP - 77
EP - 93
JO - Journal of Correctional Health Care
JF - Journal of Correctional Health Care
IS - 1
ER -