Table 3.
Characteristics of tuberculosis cases according to mode of identification in a highly endemic prison
| Systematic screening | Screening at entry | Passive detection | p | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Anamnestic variables |
|
|
|
|
| History of incarceration |
54/118 (45.8%) |
28/49 (57.1%) |
32/79 (40.5%) |
.18 |
| Total duration in jail* |
48.5 (35.8) |
41.0 (35.0) |
42.0 (31.8) |
.30 |
| History of TB treatment |
27/118 (22.9%) |
9/49 (18.4%) |
22/79 (27.8%) |
.48 |
|
Clinical and radiological variables |
|
|
|
|
| At least one symptom |
65/118 (55.1%) |
27/49 (55.1%) |
69/73 (94.5%) |
.00001 |
| Cough ≥ 3 weeks |
39/117 (33.3%) |
15/48 (31.2%) |
41/73 (56.2%) |
.0005 |
| Fever |
32/118 (27.1%) |
11/49 (22.4%) |
35/73 (47.9%) |
.0004 |
| Weight loss |
40/118 (33.9%) |
14/49 (28.6%) |
19/73 (26.0%) |
.83 |
| Thoracic pain |
34/118 (28.8%) |
15/49 (30.6%) |
44/73 (60.3%) |
.00001 |
| Night swears |
19/118 (16.1%) |
9/49 (18.4%) |
15/73 (20.5%) |
0.008 |
| Cavity |
26/118 (22.0%) |
11/49 (22.4%) |
27/79 (34.2%) |
.14 |
| Extensive lesions** |
45/118 (38.1%) |
22/49 (44.9%) |
35/79 (44.3%) |
.61 |
| HIV seropositive |
3/105 (2.9%) |
1/27 (3.7%) |
0/24 |
.75 |
|
Bacteriological variables |
|
|
|
|
| Smear (+) |
57/118 (48.3%) |
25/49 (51.0%) |
60/79 (76.0%) |
.0004 |
| Smear (−) / Culture (+) |
23/118 (19.5%) |
4/49 (8.2%) |
8/79 (10.1%) |
|
| Smear (−) / Culture (−) | 38/118 (32.2%) | 20/49 (40.8%) | 11/79 (13.9%) |
*Mean (s.d.) in months; **Presence of bilateral lesions and/or cavity.