State-of-the-Art Review: The Intersection of Infectious Diseases and Carceral Medicine

Mass incarceration is a national epidemic; all clinicians will encounter persons currently incarcerated or with a history of criminal-legal involvement. Infections are highly prevalent in these populations. This review will support clinicians to provide evidence-based infectious diseases treatment with explicit recognition of the interpersonal and structural intricacies in carceral care. Following a criminal-legal system primer, clinicians will have a finer understanding of the psychosocial complexities involved in building provider–patient relationships with those impacted by this system. By recognizing that care delivery can be subject to a potential conflict of interest in supporting both the health interests of persons incarcerated while respecting the unique carceral institution regulations in place to protect carceral staff, clinicians will navigate the concept of “dual loyalty.” With this, in conjunction with supporting patient autonomy in treatment decisions and providing infection-prevention counseling and treatment, clinicians can create a therapeutic patient alliance and reduce health disparities.