Abstract
Objective: To estimate the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and active tuberculosis in an inmate population in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Methods: We carried out an epidemiological survey to identify patients with respiratory symptoms, using a standard questionnaire recommended by WHO. After the identification of respiratory symptoms, was perform the interview and the biological samples were obtained to do HIV sorology, baciloscopy, culture and drug susceptibility test to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Results: A total of 70 individuals (20.6%) were considered symptomatic respiratory. Among the symptomatic respiratory, the prevalence of tuberculosis and HIV in the population studied was of 1.9% and 4.48%, respectively. Conclusion: Preventive measures should be adopted as a way to contain the spread of tuberculosis in prison and prevent contagion in the prison community as well as family. The cooperation between the prison system and local health departments is needed to improve the diagnostic and monitoring patients.
Highlights
In prisons, the individuals’ vulnerability to tuberculosis becomes higher due to the overcrowding of inmates in small spaces and the precariousness of the facilities
A total of 70 individuals (20.6%) had respiratory symptoms, according to World Health Organization (WHO) criteria
Of the total number of individuals respiratory symptoms, 46 (65.7%) were interviewed and had samples taken for laboratory analysis
Summary
The individuals’ vulnerability to tuberculosis becomes higher due to the overcrowding of inmates in small spaces and the precariousness of the facilities. It is noteworthy the fact that tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfection is high among inmates.[1] In addition to the precarious infrastructure, aggravating factors such as drug addiction, low socioeconomic and sanitary conditions and poor diet make tuberculosis even more lethal.[2] The problem becomes more evident in some Brazilian states, where the incidence rate among prison inmates is about 35 times higher than among the free population.[3]. The lack of adherence to treatment is an important variable, which establishes an alert for the development of drug resistance, a fact that is reinforced by reports of outbreaks of multiple-drug resistant strains of M. tuberculosis.[6] this situation maintains the individual as bacilli transmitter to other inmates, to the external population and even to prison employees
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