title: Tuberculosis control in prisons: current situation and research gaps.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tuberculosis (TB) in penitentiary services (prisons) is a major challenge to TB control. This review article describes the challenges that prison systems encounter in TB control and provides solutions for the more efficient use of limited resources based on the three pillars of the post-2015 End TB Strategy. This paper also proposes research priorities for TB control in prisons based on current challenges.
  
  
  METHODS
  Articles (published up to 2011) included in a recent systematic review on TB control in prisons were further reviewed. In addition, relevant articles in English (published 1990 to May 2014) were identified by searching keywords in PubMed and Google Scholar. Article bibliographies and conference abstracts were also hand-searched.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Despite being a serious cause of morbidity and mortality among incarcerated populations, many prison systems encounter a variety of challenges that hinder TB control. These include, but are not limited to, insufficient laboratory capacity and diagnostic tools, interrupted supply of medicines, weak integration between civilian and prison TB services, inadequate infection control measures, and low policy priority for prison healthcare.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Governmental commitment, partnerships, and sustained financing are needed in order to facilitate improvements in TB control in prisons, which will translate to the wider community.
authors: Joint Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis Programme, Division of Communicable Diseases, Health Security, and Environment, World Health Organization, Regional Office for Europe, UN City, Marmorvej 51, Copenhagen, Denmark. Electronic address: daram@who.int.
authors: Masoud
authors: M
authors: Dara
authors: Joint Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis Programme, Division of Communicable Diseases, Health Security, and Environment, World Health Organization, Regional Office for Europe, UN City, Marmorvej 51, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors: Colleen D
authors: CD
authors: Acosta
authors: Academic Medical Center, Department of Global Health, University of Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development, Amsterdam Zuidoost, Netherlands.
authors: Natalie V S Vinkeles
authors: NV
authors: Melchers
authors: Centre of Excellence for Research in AIDS (CERiA), University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors: Haider A A
authors: HA
authors: Al-Darraji
authors: International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
authors: Dato
authors: D
authors: Chorgoliani
authors: International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Geneva, Switzerland.
authors: Hernan
authors: H
authors: Reyes
authors: World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases, Fondazione S. Maugeri, Care and Research Institute, Tradate, Italy.
authors: Rosella
authors: R
authors: Centis
authors: Clinical Epidemiology and Medical Statistics Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari - Research, Medical Education and Professional Development Unit, AOU Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
authors: Giovanni
authors: G
authors: Sotgiu
authors: World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases, Fondazione S. Maugeri, Care and Research Institute, Tradate, Italy.
authors: Lia
authors: L
authors: D'Ambrosio
authors: International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union), South East Asia Office, New Delhi, India.
authors: Sarabjit S
authors: SS
authors: Chadha
authors: World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases, Fondazione S. Maugeri, Care and Research Institute, Tradate, Italy.
authors: Giovanni Battista
authors: GB
authors: Migliori
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D011330:Prisons; D012106:Research; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000517:prevention & control*
keywords: End TB Strategy; MDR-TB; Prisons; Research; Tuberculosis; Xpert MTB/RIF