Excess tuberculosis risk during and following incarceration in Paraguay: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: The increased risk of tuberculosis (TB) among people deprived of liberty (PDL) is due to individual and institution-level factors. We followed a cohort of PDL from 5 prisons in Paraguay to describe the risk of TB during incarceration and after they were released. Methods: We linked a 2013 national census of prisons with TB records from the TB Program from 2010 to 2021 to identify TB notifications among incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals. We used multivariable Cox regression models to quantify the risk of TB during and following incarceration and to identify risk factors associated with TB. Findings: Among 2996 individuals incarcerated, 451 (15.1%) were diagnosed with TB. Of these, 262 (58.1%) cases occurred during incarceration and 189 (41.9%) occurred in the community after release. In prison, the hazard ratio of developing TB was 1.97 (95% CI: 1.52-2.61) after six months of incarceration and increased to 2.78 (95% CI: 1.82-4.24) after 36 months compared with the first six months. The overall TB notification rate was 2940 per 100,000 person-years. This rate increased with the duration of incarceration from 1335 per 100,000 person-years in the first year to 8455 per 100,000 person-years after 8 years. Among former prisoners, the rate of TB decreased from 1717 in the first year after release to 593 per 100 000 person-years after 8 years of follow up. Interpretation: Our study shows the alarming risk of TB associated with prison environments in Paraguay, and how this risk persists for years following incarceration. Effective TB control measures to protect the health of people during and following incarceration are urgently needed. Funding: Paraguay National Commission of Science and Technology grant CONACYT PIN 15-705 (GS, GES, SA).

Phylogeography and transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis spanning prisons and surrounding communities in Paraguay.

Recent rises in incident tuberculosis (TB) cases in Paraguay and the increasing concentration of TB within prisons highlight the urgency of targeting strategies to interrupt transmission and prevent new infections. However, whether specific cities or carceral institutions play a disproportionate role in transmission remains unknown. We conducted prospective genomic surveillance, sequencing 471 Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex genomes, from inside and outside prisons in Paraguay's two largest urban areas, Asunción and Ciudad del Este, from 2016 to 2021. We found genomic evidence of frequent recent transmission within prisons and transmission linkages spanning prisons and surrounding populations. We identified a signal of frequent M. tuberculosis spread between urban areas and marked recent population size expansion of the three largest genomic transmission clusters. Together, our findings highlight the urgency of strengthening TB control programs to reduce transmission risk within prisons in Paraguay, where incidence was 70 times that outside prisons in 2021.

Educational level and tuberculosis mortality in Colombia: growing inequalities and stagnation in reduction.

We aim to describe the role of educational inequalities, for sex and age groups, in adult tuberculosis (TB) mortality in Colombia, 1999-2017. We linked mortality data to data estimation of the national population based on censuses and surveys to obtain primary, secondary, and tertiary adult (25+ years of age) age-standardized mortality rates (ASMR) by educational level. Thus, a population-based study was conducted using national secondary mortality data between 1999 and 2017. Tuberculosis age-standardized mortality rates were calculated separately by educational level, sex, and age groups, using Poisson regression models. Educational relative inequalities in adult mortality were evaluated by calculating the rate ratio, and the relative index of inequality (RII). Trends and joinpoints were evaluated by annual percentage change (APC). We found that, out of the 19,720 TB deaths reported, 69% occurred in men, and 45% in older adults (men and women, aged 65+). Men presented higher TB mortality rates than women (ASMR men = 7.1/100,000 inhabitants, ASMR women = 2.7/100,000 inhabitants). As mortality was consistently higher in the lowest educational level for both sexes and all age groups, inequalities in TB mortality were found to be high (RII = 9.7 and 13.4 among men and women, respectively) and growing at an annual rate of 8% and 1%. High and increasing inequalities, regarding educational level, in TB mortality in Colombia suggest the need to comprehensively address strategies for reducing TB by considering social determinants and including health education strategies throughout the country.

Educational level and tuberculosis mortality in Colombia: growing inequalities and stagnation in reduction / Nivel educacional y mortalidad por tuberculosis en Colombia: crecientes inequidades y estancamiento en su reducción / Nível de escolaridade e mortalidade por tuberculose na Colômbia: desigualdades crescentes e estagnação na redução da doença

We aim to describe the role of educational inequalities, for sex and age groups, in adult tuberculosis (TB) mortality in Colombia, 1999-2017. We linked mortality data to data estimation of the national population based on censuses and surveys to obtain primary, secondary, and tertiary adult (25+ years of age) age-standardized mortality rates (ASMR) by educational level. Thus, a population-based study was conducted using national secondary mortality data between 1999 and 2017. Tuberculosis age-standardized mortality rates were calculated separately by educational level, sex, and age groups, using Poisson regression models. Educational relative inequalities in adult mortality were evaluated by calculating the rate ratio, and the relative index of inequality (RII). Trends and joinpoints were evaluated by annual percentage change (APC). We found that, out of the 19,720 TB deaths reported, 69% occurred in men, and 45% in older adults (men and women, aged 65+). Men presented higher TB mortality rates than women (ASMR men = 7.1/100,000 inhabitants, ASMR women = 2.7/100,000 inhabitants). As mortality was consistently higher in the lowest educational level for both sexes and all age groups, inequalities in TB mortality were found to be high (RII = 9.7 and 13.4 among men and women, respectively) and growing at an annual rate of 8% and 1%. High and increasing inequalities, regarding educational level, in TB mortality in Colombia suggest the need to comprehensively address strategies for reducing TB by considering social determinants and including health education strategies throughout the country.

Pretendemos describir el papel de las inequidades educacionales, según sexo y grupos de edad, en la mortalidad de adultos por tuberculosis (TB) en Colombia, 1999-2017. Relacionamos datos de mortalidad con la estimación de datos de la población nacional, basada en censos y encuestas, con el fin de obtener las tasas de mortalidad primarias, secundarias, y terciarias de adultos (25+ años) estandarizadas por edad, según el nivel educativo. Se realizó un estudio basado en población, usando datos de mortalidad nacional secundaria entre 1999 y 2017. Las tasas de mortalidad por tuberculosis estandarizadas por edad (ASMR), fueron calculadas separadamente por nivel educacional, sexo, y grupos de edad, usando modelos de regresión de Poisson. Las inequidades educacionales relacionadas con la mortalidad en adultos fueron evaluadas calculando el cociente de tasas, y el índice de inequidad relacionado (RII). Se evaluaron tendencias y joinpoints mediante la variación porcentual anual (APC). Se descubrió que, de las 19.720 muertes informadas por TB, un 69% se produjeron en hombres, y un 45% en hombres y mujeres adultos mayores (65+). Los hombres presentaron tasas de mortalidad más altas por TB que las mujeres (ASMR hombres = 7,1/100.000 habitantes, ASMR mujeres = 2,7/100.000 habitantes). Asimismo, la mortalidad fue consistentemente más alta en los niveles educacionales más bajos y ambos sexos, además en todos los grupos de edad existieron inequidades altas en la mortalidad por TB (RII = 9,7 y 13,4 entre hombres y mujeres, respectivamente) y creciendo a una tasa anual de un 8% y 1%. Las altas y crecientes inequidades por nivel educacional en la mortalidad por TB en Colombia apuntan la necesidad de dirigir estrategias que reduzcan la TB ampliamente, tomando en consideración determinantes sociales e incluyendo estrategias de educación en salud en todo el país.

O estudo tem como objetivo descrever o papel das desigualdades educacionais por gênero e grupo etário na mortalidade por tuberculose (TB) em adultos colombianos entre 1999 e 2017. Relacionamos os dados de mortalidade com as estimativas da população nacional, com base nos censos demográficos e inquéritos para obter as taxas de mortalidade padronizadas por idade (TMPI), primárias, secundárias e terciárias, em adultos com 25 anos ou mais, de acordo com o nível de escolaridade. Foi realizado um estudo populacional com o uso de dados de mortalidade secundários entre 1999 e 2017. Foram utilizados modelos de regressão Poisson para calcular separadamente as taxas de mortalidade por tuberculose padronizadas por idade, de acordo com o nível de escolaridade, sexo e grupo etário. As desigualdades educacionais relativas na mortalidade em adultos foram avaliadas pelo cálculo da razão de taxas e o índice relativo de desigualdade (IRD). Foram avaliadas as tendências e os joinpoints através da mudança percentual anual média (APC). Entre os 19.720 óbitos por TB notificados, 69% ocorreram em homens e 45% em homens e mulheres adultos (65+). Os homens apresentaram taxas de mortalidade por TB maiores que as mulheres (TMPI masculina = 7,1/100.000 habitantes, TMPI feminina = 2,7/100.000 habitantes). A mortalidade era mais alta no nível mais baixo de escolaridade em ambos os sexos e em todos os grupos etários, portanto, as desigualdades na mortalidade por TB eram altas (IRD = 9,7 e 13,4 em homens e mulheres, respectivamente), com crescimento anual de 8% e 1%. As desigualdades altas e crescentes na mortalidade por TB de acordo com o nível de escolaridade na Colômbia sugerem a necessidade de adotar estratégias abrangentes para reduzir a carga da tuberculose, levando em conta os determinantes sociais e incluindo estratégias nacionais de educação em saúde.

The escalating tuberculosis crisis in central and South American prisons.

In the past decade, tuberculosis incidence has declined in much of the world, but has risen in central and South America. It is not yet clear what is driving this reversal of progress in tuberculosis control. Since 2000, the incarcerated population in central and South America has grown by 206%, the greatest increase in the world. Over the same period, notified tuberculosis cases among the incarcerated population (hereinafter termed persons deprived of their liberty [PDL], following the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights) have risen by 269%. In both central and South America, the rise of disease among PDL more than offsets tuberculosis control gains in the general population. Tuberculosis is increasingly concentrated among PDL; currently, 11% of all notified tuberculosis cases in central and South America occur among PDL who comprise less than 1% of the population. The extraordinarily high risk of acquiring tuberculosis within prisons creates a health and human rights crisis for PDL that also undermines wider tuberculosis control efforts. Controlling tuberculosis in this region will require countries to take urgent measures to prioritise the health of PDL.

Increased incarceration rates drive growing tuberculosis burden in prisons and jeopardize overall tuberculosis control in Paraguay.

Incarcerated populations are at high-risk to develop tuberculosis (TB), however their impact on the population-level tuberculosis epidemic has been scarcely studied. We aimed to describe the burden and trends of TB among incarcerated populations over time in Paraguay, its clinical and epidemiological differences and the population attributable fraction. This is an observational, descriptive study including all TB cases notified to the National TB control Program in Paraguay during the period 2009-2018. We also used case registries of prisoners diagnosed with tuberculosis from the Minister of Justice. The population attributable fraction of TB in the community due to incarcerated cases was estimated through Levin's formula. The characteristics of TB cases in and outside of prison were compared as well as the characteristics of TB in prisons were modified over time. During 2009-2018, 2764 (9.7%) of the 28,534 TB reported cases in Paraguay occurred in prisons. The number of prisoners in Paraguay increased from 6258 in 2009 to 14,627 in 2018 (incarceration rate, 101 to 207 per 100,000 persons) while the number of TB cases among prisoners increased by 250% (n = 192 in 2009 versus n = 480 in 2018). The annual TB notification rate among male prisoners was 3218 and 3459 per 100,000 inmates in 2009 and 2018, respectively. The percentage of all TB cases occurring among prisoners increased from 7.1% in 2009 to 14.5% in 2018. The relative risk of TB in prisons compared to community was 70.3 (95% CI, 67.7-73.1); the overall population attributable risk was 9.5%. Among the 16 penitentiary centers in the country, two of them-Tacumbú (39.0%) and Ciudad del Este (23.3%)-represent two thirds of all TB cases in prisons. TB among inmates is predominantly concentrated in those 20-34 years old (77.3% of all), twice the percentage of cases for the same age group outside of prison. Our findings show that the TB epidemic in prisons represents one of the most important challenges for TB control in Paraguay, especially in the country's largest cities. Appropriate TB control measures among incarcerated populations are needed and may have substantial impact on the overall TB burden in the country.

High Rates of Non-Tuberculous Mycobacteria Isolation in Mozambican Children with Presumptive Tuberculosis

Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) can cause disease which can be clinically and radiologically undistinguishable from tuberculosis (TB), posing a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge in high TB settings. We aim to describe the prevalence of NTM isolation and its clinical characteristics in children from rural Mozambique. This study was part of a community TB incidence study in children <3 years of age. Gastric aspirate and induced sputum sampling were performed in all presumptive TB cases and processed for smear testing using fluorochrome staining and LED Microscopy, liquid and solid culture, and molecular identification by GenoType® Mycobacterium CM/AS assays. NTM were isolated in 26.3% (204/775) of children. The most prevalent NTM species was M. intracellulare (N = 128), followed by M. scrofulaceum (N = 35) and M. fortuitum (N = 9). Children with NTM were significantly less symptomatic and less likely to present with an abnormal chest radiograph than those with M. tuberculosis. NTM were present in 21.6% of follow-up samples and 25 children had the same species isolated from ≥2 separate samples. All were considered clinically insignificant and none received specific treatment. Children with NTM isolates had equal all cause mortality and likelihood of TB treatment as those with negative culture although they were less likely to have TB ruled out.NTM isolation is frequent in presumptive TB cases but was not clinically significant in this patient cohort. However, it can contribute to TB misdiagnosis. Further studies are needed to understand the epidemiology and the clinical significance of NTM in children.

Trends in Cancer Incidence in Maputo, Mozambique, 1991­2008

Very limited information is available regarding the incidence of cancer in sub-Saharan Africa. We analyzed changes in cancer patterns from 1991 to 2008 in Maputo (Mozambique). Methods We calculated the rates of incidence of different cancer sites by sex in the 5-year age-group of the population of Maputo city as well as age-standardized rates (ASRs) and average annual percentage changes (AAPC). Results Over the 18-year study period a total of 12,674 cases of cancer (56.9% females) were registered with an overall increase in the risk of cancer in both sexes. In males, the most common cancers were those of the prostate, Kaposi sarcoma (KS) and the liver. Prostate cancer showed the most dramatic increase over the whole study period (AAPC +11.3%; 95% CI: 9.7­13.0), with an ASR of 61.7 per 105 in 2003­2008. In females, the most frequent cancers were of the uterine cervix, the breast and KS, with the former increasing along the whole study period (AAPC + 4.7%; 95% CI: 3.4­6) with an ASR of 62.0 per 105 in 2003­2008 as well as breast cancer (AAPC +6.5%; 95%CI: 4.3­8.7). Conclusions Overall, the risk of cancer rose in both sexes d