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Hepatitis B outbreak at Glenochil prison during January to June 1993
S J Hutchinson1, D J Goldberg, S M Gore
1MRC Biostatistics Initiative for AIDS and HIV in Scotland, Centre for HIV Research, Edinburgh.
Epidemiology and Infection
|September 25, 1998
Summary
Hepatitis B transmission occurred in a Scottish prison outbreak linked to needle sharing. The study highlights the urgent need for infection control and surveillance in correctional facilities.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- A 1993 outbreak of bloodborne diseases, linked to needle sharing, occurred among inmates at Glenochil prison, Scotland.
- Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are significant public health concerns, particularly in vulnerable populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the extent of hepatitis B transmission and co-infection with HIV among former inmates of Glenochil prison.
- To assess the role of the prison environment in the spread of these bloodborne infections.
Main Methods:
- A data linkage study was conducted involving 636 former inmates.
- Analysis focused on infection dates in relation to periods of imprisonment during 1993.
Main Results:
- Eleven inmates tested positive for hepatitis B during the first half of 1993, with six also co-infected with HIV.
- Seven hepatitis B infections were definitively acquired within the prison setting.
- Underreporting to the national hepatitis B register was noted, with no prison-linked cases identified.
Conclusions:
- The study identified the first reported outbreak of hepatitis B in a prison setting, emphasizing transmission risks via needle sharing.
- Urgent implementation of preventive measures and comprehensive surveillance for hepatitis B within correctional facilities is crucial.
- A clear protocol for managing such outbreaks and determining transmission extent is needed.