Hepatitis B virus infection in prisons. A seroepidemiological survey in prisoners and attending staff

Risk of COVID-19 infection among prison staff in the United States

BACKGROUND

Multiple large outbreaks of COVID-19 have been documented in prisons and jails across regions of the world, with hazardous environmental conditions amplify the risks of exposure for both incarcerated people and correctional staff. The objectives of this study are to estimate the cumulative prevalence of COVID-19 cases among U.S. prison staff over time and compare it to the prison inmate population and the general U.S. population, overall, and to examine risk of COVID-19 infection among prison staff across jurisdictions.

METHODS

We use publicly available data (April 22, 2020 to January 15, 2021) to estimate COVID-19 crude case rates per 1000 with 95% confidence intervals over the study period for prison staff, incarcerated population, and general population. We also compare COVID-19 case rates between prison staff and the general population within jurisdictions.

RESULTS

Over the study period, prison staff have reported consistently higher rates of COVID-19 compared to the general population, with prison staff case rates more closely mirroring the incarcerated population case rates. The rolling 7-day average case rates for prison staff, prison population, and general population on January 15, 2021 were 196.04 per 1000 (95%CI 194.81, 197.26), 219.16 (95%CI 218.45, 219.86), and 69.80 (95%CI 69.78, 69.83), respectively. There was substantial heterogeneity across jurisdictions, yet in 87% of study jurisdictions, the risk of COVID-19 was significantly greater among prison staff than the general state population.

CONCLUSIONS

Targeting staff for COVID-19 mitigation strategies is essential to protect the health of people who intersect with the correctional system and to flatten the curve in the surrounding communities.

Analysis of risk factors associated with hepatitis B and C infection in correctional institutions in British Columbia

The factors associated with infection with hepatitis B (hbv) and C viruses (hcv) were studied in residents of correctional institutions in British Columbia. Four hundred and fifteen residents volunteered to participate in this study. Among 415 residents tested, 28% were positive for hvb or hcv markers. Sixty-five per cent of the residents positive for hbv markers were also infected with hcv. However, in hbv-negative residents, only 14% were positive for antibody to hcv (anti-hcv). The highest rates for hbv and hcv were in 25- to 44-year-old residents. The analysis of risk factors and infection predictors in 354 residents showed that intravenous drug use and history of hepatitis were associated with infection with both hbv and hcv. The relative risk for hbv in intravenous drug users was 4.4 times that in nonusers; for hcv relative risk was 3.4 times. In the group with history of hepatitis, the relative risk was 6.2 and 4.5 times for hbv and hcv, respectively. The multivariate analysis of the data showed that both intravenous drug use and a history of hepatitis were significant (P<0.0001). Tattooing or history of transfusion was not associated with increased risk for hcv, but tattooing and age were significant factors for hbv.

Prevalence and correlates of HCV, HVB, and HIV infection among prison inmates and staff, Hungary

The aim of this national, multicenter, cross-sectional study was to assess the prevalence of hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), and human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) among prisoners, and to identify related risk behaviors including injection drug use. Overall, 4,894 inmates from 20 prisons were enrolled. To have a comparison group, prison staff were also asked to take part. Altogether, 1,553 of the 4,894 inmates from seven prisons completed a questionnaire on risk behaviors. According to the survey, 1.5%, 4.9%, and 0.04% of the prisoners were tested positive for HBsAg, anti-HCV and anti-HIV, respectively. These prevalence data are among the lowest reported from prisons worldwide, although comparable to the Central European data. The prevalence of HBV, HCV, and HIV in the Hungarian prison staff was low (0.38%, 0.47%, and 0%, respectively). The rate of HCV infection was significantly higher among inmates who have ever injected drugs (22.5%) than among inmates who reported they had never injected drugs (1.1%). This first prevalence study of illegal drug injection-related viral infections among Hungarian prisoners points out that ever injecting drugs is the main reason for HCV infection among inmates. The opportunity to reach drug users infected with HCV for treatment underlines the importance of screening programs for blood-borne viruses in prisons.

Soroprevalência da infecção pelo vírus da Hepatite B em uma prisão brasileira

Esta pesquisa objetivou estimar a prevalência do marcador do HBV e seus fatores de risco na população masculina carcerária da Penitenciária de Ribeirão Preto - SP, Brasil. De 1.030 presidiários, foram sorteados 333 participantes, os quais foram submetidos à aplicação de um questionário e à coleta de sangue, no período de maio a agosto de 2003. Para diagnóstico de exposição ao HBV foi utilizado o ensaio imunoabsorvente de ligação de enzimas (ELISA) para detecção dos marcadores HBsAg, anti-HBsAg e anti-HBc total. A prevalência total de infecção pelo HBV nos presidiários foi de 19,5% (IC95%: 15,2 - 23,8). A média de idade dos participantes foi de 30,1 anos. Na análise univariada, a infecção pelo HBV esteve associada à idade acima de 30 anos (p<0,001), uso prévio de drogas injetáveis (p<0,001) e compartilhamento de agulhas prévio (p<0,001). Em um modelo multivariado, de regressão logística, a infecção pelo HBV foi associada à idade acima de 30 anos (OR = 3,3: IC95%: 1,8 - 6.1) e uso prévio de droga injetável (OR = 2,7; IC95%: 1.9 - 6.4). Infecção pelo HBV nas prisões representa grave problema de saúde pública, principalmente relacionado à idade acima de 30 anos e uso prévio de drogas injetáveis.

Correlates of HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis infections among prison inmates and officers in Ghana: A national multicenter study

Background

Prisons are known to be high-risk environments for the spread of bloodborne and sexually transmitted infections. Prison officers are considered to have an intermittent exposure potential to bloodborne infectious diseases on the job, however there has been no studies on the prevalence of these infections in prison officers in Ghana.

Methods

A national multicenter cross-sectional study was undertaken on correlates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and syphilis infections in sample of prison inmates and officers from eight of ten regional central prisons in Ghana. A total of 1366 inmates and 445 officers were enrolled between May 2004 and December 2005. Subjects completed personal risk-factor questionnaire and provided blood specimens for unlinked anonymous testing for presence of antibodies to HIV, HCV and Treponema pallidum; and surface antigen of HBV (HBsAg). These data were analyzed using both univariate and multivariate techniques.

Results

Almost 18% (1336) of 7652 eligible inmates and 21% (445) of 2139 eligible officers in eight study prisons took part. Median ages of inmates and officers were 36.5 years (range 16–84) and 38.1 years (range 25–59), respectively. Among inmates, HIV seroprevalence was 5.9%, syphilis seroprevalence was 16.5%, and 25.5% had HBsAg. Among officers tested, HIV seroprevalence was 4.9%, HCV seroprevalence was 18.7%, syphilis seroprevalence was 7.9%, and 11.7% had HBsAg. Independent determinants for HIV, HBV and syphilis infections among inmates were age between 17–46, being unmarried, being illiterate, female gender, being incarcerated for longer than median time served of 36 months, history of homosexuality, history of intravenous drug use, history of sharing syringes and drug paraphernalia, history of participation in paid sexual activity, and history of sexually transmitted diseases. Independent determinants for HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis infections among officers were age between 25–46, fale gender, being unmarried, being employed in prison service for longer than median duration of employment of 10 years, and history of sexually transmitted diseases.

Conclusion

The comparably higher prevalence of HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis in prison inmates and officers in Ghana suggests probable occupational related transmission. The implementation of infection control practices and risk reduction programs targeted at prison inmates and officers in Ghana is urgently required to address this substantial exposure risk.

Cost-effectiveness of hepatitis B vaccination of prison inmates

The purpose of this paper is to determine the cost-effectiveness of vaccinating inmates against hepatitis B. From the prison perspective, vaccinating inmates at intake is not cost-saving. It could be economically beneficial when the cost of a vaccine dose is <US dollars 30 per dose, or there is no prevalence of infection upon intake, or the costs of treating acute or chronic disease are about 70% higher than baseline costs, or the incidence of infection during and after custody were >1.6 and 50%, respectively. The health care system realizes net savings even when there is no incidence in prison, or there is no cost of chronic liver disease, or when only one dose of vaccine is administered. Thus, while prisons might not have economic incentives to implement hepatitis B vaccination programs, the health care system would benefit from allocating resources to them.

Prevalence of hepatitis B infection in long-stay mentally handicapped adults

The objective was to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in long-stay institutionalized mentally handicapped adults and to develop a vaccination programme for them. The study was carried out in 1994. The subjects were 171 mentally handicapped adults aged 37-76 (median age 56) with a median hospital stay of 30 years (range 6-47). Markers for infection were determined using ELISA. Seronegative patients were vaccinated using the standard schedule, and the titre of antiHBs reached was determined later. The prevalence of seropositive subjects was 81.3%. Seropositive subjects had a longer hospital stay (median stay of 32 years, range: 15-47) than seronegative ones (median stay of 15 years, range: 6-33). A total of 43.3% of the vaccinated subjects developed antiHBs antibodies (GMT: 135 IU/l). The high prevalence of HBV exposure is probably a legacy of a past era which is reflected in patients with prolonged institutionalisation in a closed regime. The need for immediate vaccination of mentally handicapped subjects is of the utmost importance, as it has been shown that the response to the vaccine worsens with age.

Hepatitis B and C in New South Wales prisons: prevalence and risk factors

OBJECTIVES

To determine the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among inmates entering the New South Wales correctional system and to examine risk factors for infection.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional survey.

SETTING

Reception Centre at Long Bay Correctional Centre, Sydney, New South Wales, June to December 1994.

PARTICIPANTS

408 adult male inmates received at the Reception Centre (28% of the 1450 new inmates eligible for compulsory HIV testing).

OUTCOME MEASURES

Presence of HBV core and surface antibody and surface antigen; HCV antibody; risk factors; inmates' knowledge about risk factors.

RESULTS

37% of inmates tested positive for HCV antibody, 31% for HBV core antibody and 3.2% for HBV surface antigen (indicating recent infection or carrier status). Among those who reported a history of injecting illegal drugs, rates rose to 66% for HCV antibody and 43% for HBV core antibody. Prevalence of HBV and HCV antibodies was similar in Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal inmates, but HBV antigen carrier rate was significantly higher among Aboriginals (12% versus 2.2%). Knowledge about hepatitis risk factors was poor (only 20% named injecting drug use), although recidivists were significantly better informed than those new to the correctional system. Multivariate analysis identified injecting drug use, past exposure to hepatitis B virus and previous imprisonments as significant predictors for HCV infection, and age over 25 years and HCV antibodies for HBV infection.

CONCLUSIONS

Results suggest that about a third of adult male prisoners entering the NSW correctional system may have been infected with HBV or HCV. Measures such as education about hepatitis risk factors and HBV vaccination are needed to reduce hepatitis transmission in this population.

Evidence for gonococcal transmission within a correctional system

In a study to examine sexually transmissible disease occurring within a large correctional system where sexual activity is prohibited, 27 male inmates acquired culture-proven gonorrhea from in-jail sexual activity during a three-month period. These results provide evidence to encourage inmate education about the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and to support condom distribution programs in correctional facilities.

Influenza epidemics and anencephaly

To explore the postulated association between maternal influenza and congenital defects of the central nervous system, 14 virologically verified epidemics in Finland, 1969-82, were studied. Mothers of 248 anencephalic children were grouped into those whose first trimester had occurred during an epidemic period and those whose pregnancy had commenced during a non-epidemic period. No significant differences in prevalence of anencephaly were noted in these groups.

Prevalence of markers for hepatitis B and hepatitis D in a municipal house of correction

Following an outbreak of hepatitis B (HBV) in a municipal house of correction, HBV markers were detected in 173/406 (43 percent) inmates and 10/129 (8 percent) staff. Of the 173 HBV-infected inmates, 14 (8 percent) had hepatitis D (HDV) markers compared to 0/10 staff members. Intravenous drugs use (IVDU) was most strongly associated with HBV marker presence. Increasing duration of imprisonment, history of hepatitis B and especially IVDU were associated with the prevalence of HDV markers.

Hepatitis B in Wisconsin male prisoners: considerations for serologic screening and vaccination

To develop a protocol for prevention of hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmission in Wisconsin prisons, we interviewed 619 male prisoners at incarceration to obtain information on hepatitis B risk factors. We defined previous infections by the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs), or antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc). Logistic regression was used to develop a model of relative risk (RR) of HBV infection. Use of illicit intravenous (IV) drugs was the most important risk factor because of a high prevalence of IV drug use and an RR which ranged from 2.93-7.47. Other important risk factors were: prior hepatitis or jaundice (RR = 6.28), race (RR = 2.54 for Blacks, RR = 3.28 for Latinos), transfusion (RR = 3.00), and age. Previous imprisonment was not an independent risk factor for HBV, hence selective serologic screening and vaccination of prisoners are justified rather than mass screening and vaccination. Based upon prevalence of hepatitis B markers in subgroups, it is necessary to screen prisoners with prior hepatitis or jaundice, prior transfusion, and users of IV drugs. The identification of HBsAg carriers by such screening could prevent infection of "household" contacts. Users of IV drugs who are susceptible to HBV infection should be vaccinated. The remaining prisoners constitute a low-risk group for HBV infection and do not require serologic screening or vaccination.