[A new reality in the field of penitentiary medicine: the Complex Protected Medicine Structure of the ASL Rome B. Initial report of our working sanitary care].
BACKGROUND
The continuous demand for sanitary care from the imprisoned patients to the general public hospitals has carried to the creation of dedicated structures like the Complex Protected Medicine Structure (SCMP) at the Hospital Sandro Pertini of Rome. Aim of this study was to present the preliminary epidemiologic-clinical data gathered from July 26th 2006 to March 1st, 2006 in our SCMP.


METHODS
This study is based on an observational retrospective protocol. Patients characteristics included sex, age, alcohol, smoke and drug abuse, serology for viral hepatitis and AIDS, and treatment with benzodiazepine.


RESULTS
The records of 200 consecutive patients (18 F, 182 M; median age 46 years; range: 20-84 years), attending our Unit were analyzed retrospectively. Out of these patients, 40 (20%) were foreigners, 43 (21.5%) alcohol abusers, and 141 (70.5%) smokers. Forty-eight patients (24%) had a recent or last history of drug addiction (heroin and/or cocaine). The HIV antibodies have been assayed only on 28 patients, turning out positive in 10 (35.71%). Twenty-five patients were positive for HBsAg (12.5%) and 57 (28.5%) for HCV. A consumption of benzodiazepine (BZD) was present in 71 (35.5%) of the patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The essential elements of medical attendance of our structure are described in the article. We present the initial report of our working experience. The present data are in keeping with previous studies of the literature. We hope that our experience coul be extended to all italian Countries.
Zippi
M
M
U. O. C. Medicina Protetta, Ospedale Sandro Pertini, Roma, Italia.
Aloisio
P
P
Corbi
S
S
Scocchera
F
F
Fierro
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006748:Hospital Departments / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006779:Hospitals, Public / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011329:Prisoners; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012384:Rome