Prevalência de infecção latente por tuberculose em policiais penais no Paraná, Brasil: Um estudo longitudinal

Abstract

Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) occurs when Mycobacterium tuberculosis remains inactive in the body but can progress to the active form, especially in immunocompromised individuals. Correctional professionals are exposed to high-risk factors due to frequent contact with incarcerated individuals (PPLs), making monitoring and prevention essential. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of LTBI among correctional officers at the State Penitentiary of Francisco Beltrão-PR, Brazil, at two distinct time points (2022 and 2024) and analyze the factors associated with its progression. This is a longitudinal study conducted with correctional officers who had direct contact with PPLs. LTBI was diagnosed using the QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus (IGRA) test, and sociodemographic, clinical, and laboratory data were collected and analyzed comparatively between the 2022 and 2024 periods. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, calculating absolute and relative frequencies to characterize the sample and describe the prevalence of LTBI at both study time points. 95% confidence intervals (CI95%) were calculated to estimate LTBI prevalence. The comparison between 2022 and 2024 was conducted using proportion difference analysis. Additionally, a sensitivity analysis was performed to assess the impact of sample loss on the findings, considering different prevalence scenarios among the missing participants. The prevalence of LTBI decreased from 22.6% in 2022 to 5.7% in 2024. This reduction may be associated with the implementation of preventive measures, reduced pathogen exposure, and increased awareness of the disease. However, an increase in smoking (from 11.3% to 20.8%) and alcohol consumption (from 49.1% to 58.5%) was observed, along with a rise in continuous medication use (from 18.9% to 34%), suggesting an impact of occupational burden on the health of correctional officers. These findings highlight the need for continuous monitoring of LTBI and the implementation of prevention and health promotion strategies for correctional officers. The reduction in LTBI prevalence suggests a positive impact of the interventions adopted, but the increase in health risk factors requires special attention to the occupational health of these professionals.