Active and latent tuberculosis in prisoners in the Central-West Region of Brazil

INTRODUCTION: Jailed populations exhibit high rates of tuberculosis (TB) infection and active disease. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed to estimate the prevalence of latent and active TB and to identify factors associated with latent infection in inmates. RESULTS: The prevalence of latent TB was 49%, and the prevalence of active TB was 0.4%. The presence of a Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) scar (prevalence ratio (PR)=1.65; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.09-2.50; p=0.0162) and the World Health Organization (WHO) score for active TB in prisons (PR=1.07; 95% CI: 1.01-1.14; p=0.0181) were correlated with infection. CONCLUSIONS: The identification of associated factors and the prevalence of latent and active TB allows the development of plans to control this disease in jails.