Latent tuberculosis infection in the Polish prison staff

BACKGROUND: group. The disease spreads when people with pulmonary tuberculosis excrete bacteria when they cough, sneeze, laugh or speak. Prisons are often called reservoirs of patients with tuberculosis, posing a great threat to their staff. Longer working hours in prison and penitentiary facilities aid latent contamination among the prison staff. So far, there have been few works discussing latent tuberculosis infection issues among the prisoners and prison staff. MATERIAL AND METHODS: . The material for the research included blood samples collected using the QFT-GIT. RESULTS: Positive test results of latent tuberculosis infections were found in 16.6% of officers. The highest percentage with positive results of tuberculosis infections was found among the surveyed single women aged 36-57, working in penitentiary facilities. There have been no statistically significant differences between the position of officers and the risk factors increasing the chance of the latent tuberculosis infection. Work experience and contact with inmates were found to have an impact on tuberculosis infection. CONCLUSIONS: The obtained results partially confirm other authors' observations concerning the influence of the risk factors of latent tuberculosis infections in prisons. Work experience and contact with inmates have an impact on tuberculosis infections among the prison staff in the Lublin Voivodeship. Med Pr. 2021;72(4):415-22.