Mantoux positivity among prison inmates--New South Wales, 1996.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the prevalence of Mantoux positivity in a prison population; identify risk factors associated with tuberculosis infection; and assess the risk of tuberculosis transmission in a correctional system.

METHOD

Cross sectional random sample (between May and August 1996) of inmates stratified by sex, age and Aboriginality. Participants were 789 adult inmates (657 male and 132 female) from 27 New South Wales (NSW) correctional centres (24 male and 3 female).

RESULTS

Of the 789 inmates (657 male and 132 female) included in the survey, 639 were given a Tuberculin skin test (Mantoux). Eighty-four (13%) were Mantoux positive. A higher proportion of male inmates were Mantoux positive compared with females (14% vs. 8%, p = 0.08). Significant independent predictors of Mantoux positivity were: being male, aged over 25 years, Aboriginal, born overseas and resident at a jail where there had been a recent tuberculosis outbreak.

CONCLUSION

Screening of inmates in NSW prisons based on the principle of risk stratification is appropriate.

IMPLICATIONS

While the risk of tuberculosis transmission in NSW jails is currently considered low, continued surveillance is recommended.