Effect of tuberculosis control among prisoners in Tianjin,2000-2010

ObjectiveTo examine the prevalence trend and treatment outcome of pulmonary tuberculosis(TB)among prisoners in prison facilities in Tianjin city after the implementation of TB control strategy and to provide a basis for TB control in prison facilities.MethodsData on TB registration from 2000 to 2010 in Tianjin prison facilities were collected.TB case finding,treatment outcome of TB patients,prevalence and registration rate of pulmonary TB were analyzed.ResultsDuring the period,totally 1 794 pulmonary TB patients were diagnosed in prison facilities in Tianjin.Of all the patients,the proportions of the cases founded by entry screening,massive screening,and symptom based finding were 21.6%,52.1%,and 26.3%,respectively.The cure rate for all the patients was 87.7% and the cure rates were 80.2%,63.2%,and 89.3% for new smear positive,previously treated smear positive,and smear negative patients,respectively.The prevalence of pulmonary TB in prison facilities in Tianjin dropped from 2 182.7/100 000 to 361.7/100 000 and the prevalence of smear positive TB dropped from 371.5/100 000 to 23.3/100 000 from 2000 to 2010;the notification of pulmonary TB and smear positive pulmonary TB also declined from 2 801.9/100 000 to 735.1/100 000 and from 425.7/100 000 to 46.7/100 000 during the same period.ConclusionStrategy of active case-finding along with observed treatment short course(DOTS)achieved notable effect in the control of TB prevalence among prisoners in prison facilities Tianjin.