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

2011, South African Medical Journal

AI-generated Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a critical public health issue in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), particularly within prisons where the incidence rates are alarmingly high compared to the general population. The worsening situation, exacerbated by the co-epidemic of HIV and the rise of drug-resistant forms of TB (MDR-TB and XDR-TB), poses significant risks not only to inmates but also to prison staff and the surrounding communities. Existing health infrastructures in these systems are insufficient to manage TB effectively, leading to the urgent need for improved diagnostic, treatment, and containment strategies to prevent an explosive escalation of drug-resistant TB.