Screening for HBV, HCV, HIV and syphilis infections among bacteriologically confirmed tuberculosis prisoners: An urgent action required

Abstract

Viral hepatitis, syphilis, HIV, and tuberculosis infections in prisons have been identified globally as a public health problem. Tuberculosis (TB) and viral hepatitis co-infection may increase the risk of anti-tuberculosis treatment-induced hepatotoxicity, leading to the frequent cause of discontinuation of the first-line anti-tuberculosis drugs. Therefore, the aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the epidemiological features of HCV, HBV, syphilis and HIV infections among bacteriologically confirmed tuberculosis prisoners in Campo Grande (MS), Central Brazil. The participants who agreed to participate (n = 279) were interviewed and tested for the presence of active or current HCV, HBV, syphilis and HIV infections. The prevalence of HCV exposure was 4.7% (13/279; 95% CI 2.2–7.1). HCV RNA was detected in 84.6% (11/13) of anti-HCV positive samples. Out of 279 participants, 19 (6.8%; 95% CI 4.4–10.4) were HIV co-infected, 1.4% (4/279, 95% CI 0.5–3.8) had chronic hepatitis B virus (HBsAg positive) and 9.3% (26/279, 95% CI 6.4–13.4) had serological marker of exposure to hepatitis B virus (total anti-HBc positive). The prevalence of lifetime syphilis infection (anti- T . pallidum positive) was 10% (28/279, 95% CI 7.0–14.2) and active syphilis (VDRL ≥ 1/8 titre) was 5% (14/279, 95% CI 2.9–8.3). The prevalence of TB/HCV co-infection among prisoners with HIV (15.8%) was higher than among HIV-non-infected prisoners (3.8%; P <0.05). These results highlight the importance of hepatitis testing among prisoners with bacteriologically confirmed case of TB who can be more effectively and safely treated in order to reduce the side effects of hepatotoxic anti-TB drugs.

Treatment outcomes and their trend among tuberculosis patients treated at peripheral health settings of Northern Ethiopia between 2009 and 2014: a registry-based retrospective analysis

“…This finding supports other similar findings suggesting that HIV co-infected TB patients have significantly lower cure rates and lower treatment success rates compared to non-HIV infected counterparts [25, 27, 37]. Viral co-infection might increase the risk of anti-tuberculosis treatment-induced hepatotoxicity leading to frequent discontinuation of the first-line anti-tuberculosis drugs and hence lower treatment adherence and lower cure rates [38].…”

Tuberculosis cases in a prison in the extreme south of Brazil

“…In our study, the rate of TB/HIV coinfection found (8.6 %) was consistent with previous studies conducted among prisoners in Brazil, where the rate varies between 6.8–18 %; however, this rate is less than the rate observed in the municipality (35.0 %) during the same study period [13, 27–29]. Moreover, coinfections of TB with HBV, HCV and syphilis, and the comorbidity TB/DM were not observed.…”

“…Moreover, coinfections of TB with HBV, HCV and syphilis, and the comorbidity TB/DM were not observed. However, rates of 1.4 % for TB/HBV coinfection, 4.7 % for TB/HCV coinfection, 5 % for TB/syphilis coinfection and 19 % for TB/DM comorbidities have been already reported in Brazilian prisons [29, 30]. Screening among prisoners may be responsible for the lower rates of these infections than in the general population [31].…”

Treatment outcomes and their trend among tuberculosis patients treated at peripheral health settings of Northern Ethiopia Between 2009-2014: a registry-based retrospective analysis

“…This finding supports other similar findings suggesting that HIV co-infected TB patients have significantly lower cure rates and lower treatment success rates compared to non-HIV infected counterparts [27,38,39]. Viral co-infection might increase the risk of anti-tuberculosis treatment-induced hepatotoxicity leading to frequent discontinuation of the first-line anti-tuberculosis drugs and hence lower treatment adherence and lower cure rates [40].…”