Tuberculosis in prisons in sub-Saharan Africa--a potential time bomb (original) (raw)

This editorial highlights the alarming prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) in prisons across sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where rates are significantly higher than in the general population, exacerbated by the co-infection of HIV among inmates. Current prison health services are inadequate, lacking proper isolation and treatment for multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) TB, raising concerns about potential outbreaks that could extend into the community. Urgent improvements in screening, diagnosis, and overall health services are recommended to address this impending public health crisis.