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

This Article Full Text (PDF) Submit a response 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 PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Beltrami, J F Articles by Farley, T A Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Beltrami, J F Articles by Farley, T A

Rapid screening and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases in arrestees: a feasible control measure.

J F Beltrami, D A Cohen, J T Hamrick and T A Farley

Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, La, USA.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility and usefulness of rapid screening and immediate presumptive treatment for sexually transmitted diseases among arrestees at a county jail. METHODS: The rapid plasma reagin test (for syphilis) and the urine leukocyte esterase test (for urethritis) were used in establishing routine screening and presumptive treatment for sexually transmitted diseases among arrestees. RESULTS: Of 4757 arrestees screened, 82 (1.7%) had untreated syphilis, and, of 4174 male arrestees screened, 541 (13%) had a positive leukocyte esterase test. The syphilis prevalence rate was higher among women than among men (3.1% vs 1.5%), and the rate was higher among Blacks than among Whites (2.3% vs 0.7%). Although leukocyte esterase test positivity was higher among persons reporting a urethral discharge (57% vs 12%), 88% of persons with a positive test result did not report such symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The program described here has reached persons with sexually transmitted diseases who are unlikely to use traditional health care services and thus are likely to remain untreated. Rapid screening and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases among arrestees is feasible and should be considered in areas with high sexually transmitted disease rates.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. T. Bernstein, J. M. Chow, J. Ruiz, J. Schachter, E. Horowitz, R. Bunnell, and G. Bolan Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae Infections Among Men and Women Entering California Prisons Am J Public Health, October 1, 2006; 96(10): 1862 - 1866. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. G. Fisher, M. E. Milroy, G. L. Reynolds, J. A. Klahn, and M. M. Wood Arrest History among Men and Sexual Orientation Crime Delinquency, January 1, 2004; 50(1): 32 - 42. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. Ratelle, M. S. Nguyen, Y. Tang, M. Whelan, P. Etkind, T. Lincoln, and W. Dumas Low Sensitivity of the Leukocyte Esterase Test (LET) in Detecting Chlamydia trachomatis Infections in Asymptomatic Men Entering a County Jail Journal of Correctional Health Care, January 1, 2004; 10(2): 217 - 226. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. L. Chen, D. B Callahan, and P. R. Kerndt Syphilis Control Among Incarcerated Men Who Have Sex With Men: Public Health Response to an Outbreak Am J Public Health, September 1, 2002; 92(9): 1473 - 1474. [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. I. Wolfe, F. Xu, P. Patel, M. O'Cain, J. A. Schillinger, M. E. St. Louis, and L. Finelli An Outbreak of Syphilis in Alabama Prisons: Correctional Health Policy and Communicable Disease Control Am J Public Health, August 1, 2001; 91(8): 1220 - 1225. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. E. Yasunaga The Health of Jailed Women: A Literature Review Journal of Correctional Health Care, April 1, 2001; 8(1): 21 - 35. [Abstract] [PDF]

				Outbreak of Primary and Secondary Syphilis--Guilford County, North Carolina, 1996-1997 JAMA, January 13, 1999; 281(2): 125 - 126. [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. F. Beltrami, T. A. Farley, J. T. Hamrick, and D. A. Cohen A Controlled Trial of a Condom Promotion at a Jail: Lessons Learned Journal of Correctional Health Care, April 1, 1998; 5(1): 75 - 87. [Abstract] [PDF]