title: Tuberculosis in Nazilli District Prison, Turkey, 1997-2001.
abstract: METHODS
  Nazilli District Prison, Turkey.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the tuberculosis situation in a Turkish prison.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data obtained between 1997 and 2001 during the systematic annual tuberculosis screening programme undertaken in Nazilli District Prison were evaluated retrospectively. The screening programme consisted of yearly miniature chest radiography, and clinical and bacteriological evaluation of prisoners with abnormalities. Active tuberculosis cases among prisoners diagnosed passively at any time during the period were also studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over the 5-year period, 99.8% of the prisoners were screened. The mean point prevalence of tuberculosis in Nazilli District Prison was 341 per 100,000 prisoners. The total number of active tuberculosis cases was 13; five were symptomatic, of whom three were detected during screening. The remaining eight cases were determined only by screening. Treatment outcomes were treatment completion for six cases and cure for seven cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because tuberculosis prevalence is high among prisoners, it is necessary to continue screening for tuberculosis in prison in addition to passive case-finding activities. Treatment success is satisfactory in Nazilli District Prison. Screening of prison staff, contact examination and preventive approaches need further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Medical Faculty of Pamukkale University, Chest Diseases Department, Denizli, Turkey. goksel.kiter@superonline.com
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kiter
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arpaz
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Keskin
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sezgin
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Budin
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Seref
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011329:Prisoners / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011330:Prisons; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology