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Vol. 15. Issue 3.
Pages 272-275 (May - June 2011)
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Vol. 15. Issue 3.
Pages 272-275 (May - June 2011)
Open Access
Seroepidemiological survey of transmissible infectious diseases in a Portuguese prison establishment
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Nuno Miguel da Silva Marques1,
Corresponding author
lusonmar@hotmail.com

Infectious Diseases Clinic, University Hospitals of Coimbra, Praceta Prof. Mota Pinto, Coimbra, Portugal 3000-075.
, Renata Margalho2, Maria João Melo3, José Gabriel Saraiva da Cunha4, António Abel Meliço-Silvestre5
1 Physician, Infectious Diseases Clinic, University Hospitals of Coimbra, EPE, Portugal
2 Clinical Psychologist, Infectious Diseases Clinic, University Hospitals of Coimbra, EPE, Portugal
3 Social Worker of Regional Prison Establishment of Coimbra, Portugal
4 Head of Infectious Diseases Clinic, University Hospitals of Coimbra, EPE; Professor of Coimbra's Medical School, Portugal
5 Head of Infectious Diseases Department, University Hospitals of Coimbra, EPE; Professor of Coimbra's Medical School, Portugal
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Abstract

A cross-sectional study was conducted in 151 (71.6%) of 211 male inmates of a regional Portuguese prison in order to establish the seroprevalence for viral hepatitis (HAV, HBV, HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), syphilis and herpes simplex virus (HSV-1 and HSV-2) and to analyze some psychosocial and criminal characteristics. Mean age was 34 years. Anti-HAV was positive in 69.5% (n=105) and in 34.4% (n=52) for anti-HCV. One (0.7%) person had HBsAg and 29 (19.2%) had laboratory markers of past HBV infection. Non-immune inmates for HBV were 40.4% (n=61). Syphilis was diagnosed in 6.0% (n=9). The rate of HIV infection was 6.6% (n=10; all HIV-1). The seropositivity of HSV-2 was 19.9% (n=30) and of HSV-1 was 82.1% (n=124). Alcohol dependence was reported by 26.5% (n=40). Excluding tobacco and prescription medication, 73.5% (n=111) reported drug use in prison. The most commonly used drugs were: cannabis (100%; n=111) followed by heroin (56.7%; n=63). Anti-HCV rate was noteworthy. The HIV infection rate (6.6%) in this regional prison is at least 13 to 22 times greater than in general population. As the inmate return to the community increases the risk of disease exposure for the general population, early detection and counseling is urgently needed for prisoners.

Keywords:
mass screening
communicable diseases
prisons
drug users
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