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. 2005 Oct;95(10):1793-9.
doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2004.047753.

Ongoing transmission of hepatitis B virus infection among inmates at a state correctional facility

Amy J Khan  1 , Edgar P Simard, William A Bower, Heather L Wurtzel, Marina Khristova, Karla D Wagner, Kathryn E Arnold, Omana V Nainan, Madeleine LaMarre, Beth P Bell
Affiliations

Ongoing transmission of hepatitis B virus infection among inmates at a state correctional facility

Amy J Khan et al. Am J Public Health. 2005 Oct.

Abstract

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.

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Figures

FIGURE 1—
FIGURE 1—
Genetic relatedness of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA from infected inmates: phylogenetic distribution derived from 145-base-pair segment from the surface antigen region. Note. Samples designated with prefix “1” were collected during the baseline serological survey in June 2000; those with prefix “2” were collected during June 2001. The horizontal line at bottom left represents 1% nucleotide substitution for that horizontal branch length. HBV genotype reference strains were obtained from GenBank (accession numbers AJ309369 for genotype A, AY167098 for genotype B, and AB033558 for genotype D).
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