Infection Control in Jails and Prisons

• Published in: Clinical infectious diseases Vol. 45; no. 8; pp. 1047 - 1055
• Main Author: Bick, Joseph A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL The University of Chicago Press 15-10-2007; University of Chicago Press; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Chlamydia; Communicable Diseases - epidemiology; Comparative analysis; Correctional institutions; Disease transmission; Epidemiology; Healthcare Epidemiology; Hepatitis B virus; Hepatitis C virus; HIV; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Infections; Infectious diseases; Influenza virus; Jails; Medical sciences; Mycobacterium; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Prisoners; Prisons; Risk; Staphylococcus aureus; Treponema pallidum; Tuberculosis; Varicella-zoster virus; Viruses; United States > US; Prevention; Infection; Check; Carceral environment
• ISSN: 1058-4838; 1537-6591
• DOI: 10.1086/521910

At the end of 2005, ∼7 million people (or 1 of every 33 American adults) were either in jail, in prison, or on parole [1]. Compared with the general public, newly incarcerated inmates have an increased prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus infection, hepatitis B virus infection, hepatitis C virus infection, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection [2]. While incarcerated, inmates are at an increased risk for the acquisition of blood-borne pathogens, sexually transmitted diseases, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection, and infection with airborne organisms, such as M. tuberculosis, influenza virus, and varicella-zoster virus. While incarcerated, inmates interact with hundreds of thousands of correctional employees and millions of annual visitors [2]. Most inmates are eventually released to interact with the general public. Tremendous opportunities exist for infectious diseases specialists and infection-control practitioners to have an impact on the health of correctional employees, the incarcerated, and the communities to which inmates return. This article presents a brief review of some of the most important infection-control challenges and opportunities within the correctional setting.