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%) |