HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (2) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Khan, A. J. Articles by Bell, B. P. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Khan, A. J. Articles by Bell, B. P. Related Collections Epidemiology Health Policy Immunization/Vaccines Hepatitis Prevention

Amy J. Khan, MD, MPH, Edgar P. Simard, MPH, William A. Bower, MD, Heather L. Wurtzel, MPH, Marina Khristova, PhD, Karla D. Wagner, MA, Kathryn E. Arnold, MD, Omana V. Nainan, PhD, Madeleine LaMarre, MN, CFNP and Beth P. Bell, MD, MPH

At the time of this study, Amy J. Khan and Karla D. Wagner were with the Division of Viral Hepatitis, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Ga. Edgar P. Simard, William A. Bower, Heather L. Wurtzel, Marina Khristova, Omana V. Nainan, and Beth P. Bell are with the Division of Viral Hepatitis, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta. Kathryn E. Arnold is with the Division of Public Health, Georgia Department of Human Resources, Atlanta. At the time of this study, Madeleine LaMarre was with the Georgia Department of Corrections, Atlanta.

Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Beth P. Bell, MD, MPH, Division of Viral Hepatitis, Mail Stop G-37, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, NE, Atlanta, Ga 30333 (email: dvhwi{at}cdc.gov).

Objectives. We sought to determine hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection prevalence, associated exposures, and incidence among male inmates at a state correctional facility.

Methods. A cross-sectional serological survey was conducted in June 2000, and susceptible inmates were retested in June 2001.

Results. At baseline, 230 inmates (20.5%; 95% confidence interval [CI]=18.2%, 22.9%) exhibited evidence of HBV infection, including 11 acute and 11 chronic infections. Inmates with HBV infection were more likely than susceptible inmates to have injected drugs (38.8% vs 18.0%; adjusted prevalence odds ratio [OR]=3.0; 95% CI=1.9, 4.9), to have had more than 25 female sex partners (27.7% vs 17.5%; adjusted prevalence OR=2.0; 95% CI=1.4, 3.0), and to have been incarcerated for more than 14 years (38.4% vs 17.6%; adjusted prevalence OR=1.7; 95% CI=1.1, 2.6). One year later, 18 (3.6%) showed evidence of new HBV infection. Among 19 individuals with infections, molecular analysis identified 2 clusters involving 10 inmates, each with a unique HBV sequence.

Conclusions. We documented ongoing HBV transmission at a state correctional facility. Similar transmission may occur at other US correctional facilities and could be prevented by vaccination of inmates.