Case 3: HIV Infection in the Correctional Setting

Question | Discussion | References | CME Credit

Updated May 2, 2006

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A 47-year-old man co-infected with HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) is brought to your clinic from the local jail by a correctional officer for evaluation of a soft tissue infection. He denies any other symptoms or active medical problems. The patient was recently arrested 2 weeks prior for an incident related to his active injection drug use (IDU). Routine laboratory testing done near the time of his arrest revealed a CD4 count of 238 cells/mm³ and HIV RNA of greater than 100,000 copies/mL. He has no history of HIV-related opportunistic infections and has never taken antiretroviral therapy.

Which one of the following statements is TRUE?

	All incarcerated persons are required by law to undergo HIV testing upon entry to jail or prison.
	Female inmates have a higher prevalence of documented HIV infection than male inmates.
	Most incarcerated HIV-infected persons acquire their HIV infection while in prison or jail.
	The percentage of HIV-infected inmates who achieve undetectable HIV RNA levels (while receiving HAART in prison) is significantly lower than typically achieved by HIV-infected persons taking HAART in a community setting.
	All incarcerated persons who take HAART receive directly observed therapy (DOT) while in a correctional facility.