Tenth NIJ/CDC National Survey of Infectious Diseases in Correctional Facilities: Tuberculosis Screening, Treatment and Education

• NCJ Number: 216640
• Author(s): Theodore Hammett Ph.D.; Sofia Kennedy MPH; Sarah Kuck
• Date Published: November 2006
• Length: 32 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2001-IJ-CX-K018; ASP-TR-22; 99-C-008
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Survey

Annotation

This report presents findings from the 10th CDC (Centers for Disease Control)/ NIJ (National Institute of Justice) National Survey of Infectious Diseases in Correctional Facilities, which focuses on policies and practices related to tuberculosis (TB).

Abstract

The findings pertain to policies for tuberculosis screening of inmates and staff, tuberculosis infection among inmates, inmates under treatment for tuberculosis, treatment for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), discharge planning and education, and collaboration with departments of public health and community-based organizations. Ninety-four percent of the responding State/Federal correctional systems required mandatory skin testing for TB for all incoming inmates within 2 weeks of admission; one-third required testing in the first 24 hours after admission. All jails reported doing some TB screening. Over 90 percent of the State/Federal systems and 40 percent of city/county systems conducted annual TB screening of all inmates. Positive tuberculin skin test results were reported for 37,282 inmates in 30 State/Federal systems and 18 city/county systems in 2005. Twenty-three State/Federal systems treated 436 inmates for TB, and 23 systems reported treating no cases. Three-fourths of Federal/State systems treat all inmates with LTBI; only two systems explicitly consider length of stay when starting treatment. Ninety-percent of State/Federal systems and 85 percent of city/county systems provide at least rudimentary information to inmates about TB and TB testing. Some level of collaboration was common between the State/Federal systems and departments of public health on TB prevention, and treatment collaboration was common. Collaboration with community-based organizations was rare. The 2005 survey had a response rate of 79 percent for the three main respondent types (Federal Bureau of Prisons, State departments of corrections, and large city/county systems), 45 percent for three new respondent types (tribal, regional/rural, and small city jails), and 16 percent for the validation survey. 15 tables and 3 references