Overview of the epidemic situation on tuberculosis in Russian prisons in 2019

Abstract

Monitoring the epidemic situation of tuberculosis in pri- sons is of great importance in the Russian and internation- al system of monitoring tuberculosis. Objective of the study : to monitor the epidemic situation of tuberculosis in Russian prisons. Methods. We used information from official statistics. Extensive and intensive indicators were calculated, regression analysis was used. Results. The in- dicator “The proportion of people diagnosed with active tuberculosis diagnosed for the first time in their lives in penitentiary institutions in the total number of patients di- agnosed with active tuberculosis for the first time in their lives” is being successfully met. In 2019 it was 7.3% with a target of 7.8%. The notification rate of new cases of tuber- culosis is declining at a faster rate in correctional facilities (to 465.0 per 100,000) and at a lower rate in pre-trial de- tention centers (to 1251.0 per 100,000). The decline in the notification rate of new cases of tuberculosis in pre-trial de- tention centers may slow due to COVID-19. There is a fur- ther decrease in the prevalence of tuberculosis (to 2,677.3 per 100,000) and TB mortality (to 7.0 per 100,000). The inci- dence of TB/HIV among people living with HIV decreased to 2506.0 per 100,000, while ART coverage increased to 59.5%. A strong inverse correlation was found between the incidence of tuberculosis in people living with HIV and their coverage of ART (r=-0.99). The prevalence of MDR-TB has not changed over the past 3 years, amounting to 684.0 per 100,000 in 2019 with an increase in primary MDR to 32.8%. Conclusion: the TB epidemic situation continues to improve, mainly in correctional facilities, less in pre-trial detention centers. The improvement in the epidemic situa- tion of tuberculosis with HIV infection is associated with an increase in the coverage of people living with HIV with ART. Two multidirectional processes ensure the lack of MDR-TB dynamics: a decrease in the incidence of tuberculosis, on the one hand, and an increase in primary multidrug resis- tance of MBT, on the other.