Mass X-ray examination conducted in Azerbaijan to identify tuberculosis amongst prisoners

A mass X-ray examination was conducted and a questionnaire survey was held in Azerbaijan this year in order to identify tuberculosis amongst prisoners in 12 prisons, the head of medical department of the Justice Ministry, Rafael Mehdiyev said.

"This year, in the special medical institution of the Penal Service, where inmates with tuberculosis are being treated, about 450 prisoners are being treated from tuberculosis with the first row of DOTS, and about 100 prisoners - with second-row of DOTS-plus," said Mehdiyev.

In 1995, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) launched a DOTS project in the prisons. The treatment DOTS-plus has been launched since 2007. The essence of this method is based on the use of second-row medicines in resistant treatment from tuberculosis.
Mehdiyev, among the prisoners there are more persons involved in the re-treatment.

"Over recent years, the cases of primary tuberculosis and the mortality rate from tuberculosis have decreased," said the head of the department.

According to official, TB infection occurs not only in prisons.

"For example, among those detained and placed in the detention centers, there are cases of active tuberculosis. And this is natural. The style of the criminals' life increases the risk of tuberculosis infection," Mehdiyev said.

According to him, over the recent years, there have not been cases of tuberculosis infection amongst employees working in the specialized medical institutions of the Penal Service.

This year, the Ministry of Justice and the Swiss Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND) signed a contract to further improve and modernize bacteriological services in the specialized medical facilities, he said.

As a result of cooperation with the FIND, the results of tests in specialized clinics of laboratory diagnostic equipment "GeneXpert" were published in the September 2010 issue of the British magazine "New England Journal of Medicine".

Soon the World Health Organization will make an offer on wide application of laboratory diagnostic equipment "GeneXpert", used in specialized medical institutions, Mehdiyev said.
"With this equipment, for a couple of hours it will be possible to identify the TB bacillus and the sensitivity to medicines against tuberculosis, which helps identify of resistant forms of tuberculosis in advance," said Mehdiyev.


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