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An Evaluation of Latent Tuberculosis Infections in an Ohio Prison

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2010, Master of Public Health, Ohio State University, Public Health.

The goal of this investigation was to evaluate treatment outcomes associated with tuberculosis in a correctional environment. We also conducted a case-control study to determine if social history variables such as tobacco use, alcohol use, intravenous drug abuse, and non-intravenous drug abuse were significant risk factors for tuberculosis infection.

Data on cases (individuals with positive tuberculin skin tests (TSTs)) and age-matched controls (individuals with negative TSTs) were extracted from medical charts at an Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC) facility in Orient, Ohio. Eighty-nine cases were identified and age-matched controls were randomly chosen for 88 individuals. All 89 of the cases identified at the facility received a diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), and 75 (84%) of the inmates had either completed or were receiving treatment for LTBI. Comparisons between the cases and controls revealed significantly higher rates of asthma (p=0.03) and rheumatoid arthritis (p<0.01) among cases. Conditional logistic regression determined that the social history variables we investigated were not significant predictors in this population.

Overall treatment outcomes from the study were encouraging with a majority of the infected inmates receiving and completing treatment for LTBI. No significant predictors of infection were found but more detailed information on frequency and duration of substance abuse in future studies could prove otherwise. Some concerns were noted with regards to a lack of documentation of HIV results and treatments, however the facility demonstrates the ability of a correctional institution to detect and treat LTBI among a highly vulnerable and disadvantaged population.

David Murray, PhD (Advisor)
Shu-Hua Wang, MD, MPH (Committee Member)
22 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Weant, T. E. (2010). An Evaluation of Latent Tuberculosis Infections in an Ohio Prison [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1267757830

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Weant, Tyler. An Evaluation of Latent Tuberculosis Infections in an Ohio Prison. 2010. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1267757830.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Weant, Tyler. "An Evaluation of Latent Tuberculosis Infections in an Ohio Prison." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2010. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1267757830

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)