Tuberculosis in prison
2011
Introduction: Prison tuberculosis is a major problem because society “behind the walls” is overcrowded and isolation of patients is difficult and time-consuming. The program for improvement of the control on tuberculosis in Bulgarian prisons was started in order to solve these conditions.
Aims and objectives: Our aim is to present the ability of the program to provide better care for patients and contact people and better working conditions for medical personnel on both sides of the walls.
Methods: We observed a one year period from the beginning of the program in the Pleven prison. Measures like regular screening questionnaires, bacteriology, chest radiology and consultations with a supervising pulmonologist were provided regularly. Patients with pulmonary tuberculosis were isolated and sent to the prison hospital. Contact people were tested with a tuberculin test and were given isoniazid.
Results: This prison is inhabited by 600 prisoners and only 2 of them were diagnosed as sufferers of active tuberculosis. Other 2 continued therapy in prison after active hospital treatment. Prevalence of prison tuberculosis is about 900 out of every 100 000 prisoners. 421 questionnaires were filled, 110 prisoners gave sputum for bacteriology and 52 tuberculin tests were done. A room was built for induction of sputum and another for patient isolation.
Conclusion: The above measures guarantee the ability of the program to provide good medical service to prisoners, however most of them contracted tuberculosis outside the walls before imprisonment.
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