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Radiographic screening for tuberculosis in a large urban county jail
M Puisis1, J Feinglass, E Lidow
1Cermak Health Services, Chicago, IL 60608, USA.
Objective:
This study was designed to evaluate an innovative program of high speed radiographic screening for pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) at a large urban correctional institution, Cook County Jail in Chicago.
Methods:
From March 1992 to February 1994, 126,608 inmates were screened on intake with a 100-mm mini-chest radiograph.
Results:
Sixty-seven cases of active TB were identified by radiograph and 19 others from diagnostic work-up. The case finding rate for active disease with radiographic screening was approximately double the rate previously achieved with Mantoux skin testing. Mean time from jail entry to isolation was reduced from 17.6 days with Mantoux skin testing to 2.3 days with radiographic screening.
Conclusions:
In large jail facilities, high speed X-ray screening for TB can minimize disruption of the intake process and lead to dramatic improvements in the efficiency of medical follow-up and isolation.