title: [Hospital detention in tuberculosis control].
abstract: This article describes the actions of public health services of the city of Barcelona to prevent tuberculosis transmission by noncompliant smear-positive patients by using the possibilities of Spanish Law 3/1986. The actions were based on a resolution of the health authorities on the need to locate such patients and to detain them in hospitals to provide treatment. This involved police cooperation, informing noncompliant patients, and requesting ratification from the Administrative Court. The article describes the process and the characteristics of the cases involved. Over nine years, from July 2006 to June 2015, the law was used in only twelve cases. The authors conclude that the criteria of prudence and proportionality were used in the application of the law, which resulted in the treatment of patients who posed a risk to their environment, reducing the transmission of infection.
authors.affiliation: Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona, Barcelona, España; CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), España; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques Sant Pau, Barcelona, España; Departament de Ciències Experimentals i de la Salut, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, España. Electronic address: jrvillal@aspb.cat.
authors.forename: Joan R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Villalbí
authors.affiliation: Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Mònica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Campos
authors.affiliation: Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona, Barcelona, España; CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), España; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques Sant Pau, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Àngels
authors.initials: À
authors.lastname: Orcau
authors.affiliation: Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: M Àngels
authors.initials: MÀ
authors.lastname: Espachs
authors.affiliation: Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salamero
authors.affiliation: Serveis Clínics SAU, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maldonado
authors.affiliation: Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona, Barcelona, España; CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), España; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques Sant Pau, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Joan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Caylà
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D000074441:Involuntary Treatment / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013030:Spain; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000517:prevention & control*
keywords: Detention; Hospitalización obligatoria; Public health law; Public health surveillance; Regulación sanitaria; Tuberculosis; Vigilancia de salud pública