Antiretroviral prescribing patterns in the Texas prison system

Although the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection amo ng prison inmates is reported to be high, little is known about anti-HIV tr eatment patterns in correctional institutions. The present study assessed a ntiretroviral prescribing patterns for 2360 Texas Department of Criminal Ju stice (TDCJ) inmates infected with HIV. In 1998, 66.8% of all TDCJ inmates infected with HIV who had CD4 lymphocyte counts <500 cells/mm(3) were treat ed with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). However, no substanti al differences in the use of HAART were exhibited according to the sociodem ographic factors under study. While the majority of inmates receiving HAART in 1998 were prescribed a combination of 2 nucleoside reverse transcriptas e inhibitors (NRTIs) and 1 protease inhibitor, 11.2% were prescribed a comb ination of 2 NRTIs and 1 non-NRTI. In view of the elevated rate of HIV infe ction in correctional settings, it will be important to continue to documen t the pharmacotherapy patterns among prison inmates, both during and follow ing incarceration.