Chest radiograph screening for tuberculosis in a Hong Kong prison.
METHODS
Long-stay prisoners are not regularly screened for TB in Hong Kong.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate tuberculosis (TB) screening in prison.


METHODS
All prisoners in a maximum security prison as of 31 October 2001 were screened by chest radiograph (CXR), except for those being followed up for TB or examined by CXR in the last 6 months.


RESULTS
A total of 814 male prisoners aged 34.6 +/- 9.6 (mean +/- SD) years were successfully screened. Of 53 cases (6.51%) with radiographic abnormalities, 10 active TB cases (8 culture-negative, 2 culture-positive) were diagnosed, giving an overall yield of 1.23% (95%CI 0.59-2.26). There was no statistical difference in age, ethnicity, place of birth or residency status between those with and those without TB (all P > 0.05). Incarceration > or = 2 years, being in current prison > or = 2 years and not having CXR in last 2 years were associated with TB in univariate analysis (all P < 0.05), but only the last remained an independent predictor in multiple logistic regression (OR 16.8, 95%CI 2.1-132.9, P = 0.008). In that group, the yield was 3.1% (95%CI 1.42-5.89). No further cases were detected in the subsequent 2 years.


CONCLUSIONS
CXR screening of long-stay prisoners gave a high yield in this study.
Leung
C C
CC
Department of Health, TB and Chest Service, 4/F Shaukiwan Jockey Club Clinic, Hong Kong, SAR, China. cc_leung@dh.gov.hk
Chan
C K
CK
Tam
C M
CM
Yew
W W
WW
Kam
K M
KM
Au
K F
KF
Tai
L B
LB
Leung
S M
SM
Ng
J
J
D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000191:economics; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015995:Prevalence; D011329:Prisoners; D011330:Prisons; D011859:Radiography; D012307:Risk Factors; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*