Prevalence and incidence of hepatitis C in injecting drug users attending genitourinary medicine clinics

2008 ◽  
Vol 137 (7) ◽  
pp. 980-987 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. BALOGUN ◽  
N. MURPHY ◽  
S. NUNN ◽  
A. GRANT ◽  
N. J. ANDREWS ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Drug Users ◽  
Multivariable Analysis ◽  
Injecting Drug Users ◽  
Hcv Rna ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Prevalence Studies ◽  
Genitourinary Medicine ◽  
Cross Sectional Design ◽  
Type 3

SUMMARYSurveillance reports and prevalence studies have indicated that injecting drug users (IDUs) contribute more to the hepatitis C epidemic in the United Kingdom than any other risk group. Information on both the prevalence and incidence of hepatitis C in IDUs is therefore essential to understanding the epidemiology of this infection. The prevalence of hepatitis C in specimens from the Unlinked Anonymous Prevalence Monitoring Programme collected in 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001 was determined using residual syphilis serology specimens from IDUs attending 15 genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics in and outside London. These specimens were tested for antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV). Using this cross-sectional design, anti-HCV-negative specimens were tested for HCV RNA to identify incident infections during the ‘window’ period of infection, and thus to estimate HCV incidence. Results of the multivariable analysis showed that there was marked variation in prevalence by clinic (P<0·0001) and age (P<0·0001). Overall the majority of infections were in males and the overall prevalence in injectors declined over the study period from 36·9% to 28·7%. The annual incidence in these injectors was estimated as being 3·01% (95% CI 1·25–6·73). Over the study period HCV incidence decreased by 1·2% per year. Genotyping of the incident infections identified the most common genotype as type 1 with type 3 being more frequently seen after 1998. Of the prevalent infections, genotype 1 was the most common. The study has confirmed a higher prevalence of anti-HCV in IDUs in the London area compared to those outside London. How representative of the current injecting drug user population are IDUs attending GUM clinics is unclear. Even so, such studies allow prevalence and incidence to be estimated in individuals who have ever injected drugs and inform ongoing public health surveillance.

scholarly journals Characterization of Hepatitis C Virus Circulating among Injecting Drug Users (IDU) in Kilifi County, Kenya.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Onchong'a Mainga ◽  
Odari Okoth Eddy ◽  
Borus Kimutai Peter ◽  
Ole Kwallah Allan ◽  
Murith Gikunda James ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Drug Users ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Injecting Drug Users ◽  
Hcv Infection ◽  
Nucleic Acid Amplification ◽  
Research Review ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Genotype 1A

Abstract Background: Hepatitis C virus is a major global health problem estimated to infect over 170 million people globally with the most common route of infection being injecting drug use (IDU). Treatment for HCV infection has traditionally been shown to be genotype specific; however the available drugs are still expensive and out of reach in many developing countries. To improve on monitoring, there is need to continuously document the genotypic burden and epidemiology in different populations arises. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the circulating genotypes and link the data to the socio-demographics of injecting drug users in Kilifi County along the Kenyan coastline. Methods: Using a random sampling method, this was a cross-sectional prospective study conducted among 127 injecting drug users, whereby ethical clearance was sought from Kenyatta National Hospital/ University of Nairobi Ethical and Research review committee (KNH/UON-ERC), and Reference number P366/07/2017 on 25 th September 2017. Serology for HCV was done followed by nucleic acid amplification and eventual genotyping. Socio-demographic data was collected using questionnaire administered at the sites. Results: A total of 28 (23 males and 5 females) samples out of 127 samples were positive for HCV giving a prevalence of 22.1%. The modal age group was 25- 49 years. Of the positive samples, 11 were amplified by PCR, all from the male IDUs. Prevalent genotypes included genotype 1a (13%) and genotype 4a (87%). Both genotype 1a and 4a were only found in males. Conclusion: Although it is the first time to report HCV4a in Kilifi town and Mtwapa as compared to Watamu and Malindi which had both HCV1a and HCV4a. Tourists born in countries where HCV prevalence is high are supposed to be screened before accessing entry to Kilifi County. No clinical trial was conducted. The study reveals the burden of HCV infection among IDUs in Kilifi County. The Government should formulate policies for intervention on testing and treatment of HCV in Kilifi County targeting IDUs in order to minimize spread to other populations.

scholarly journals Hepatitis C reinfection in former and active injecting drug users in Belgium

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dana Busschots ◽  
Rob Bielen ◽  
Özgür M. Koc ◽  
Leen Heyens ◽  
Rita Verrando ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Treatment Response ◽  
Drug Users ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Hcv Rna ◽  
Genotype 3 ◽  
Reinfection Rate ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
End Of Treatment ◽  
Viral Hepatitis C

Abstract Background There is currently no systematic screening for hepatitis C (HCV) reinfection in people who inject drugs (PWID) after treatment in Belgium. However, in a recent meta-analysis, the overall HCV reinfection rate was 5.9/100 person-years (PY) among PWID. Accordingly, this study was undertaken to investigate the reinfection rate in former and active PWID who achieved the end of treatment response after direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment in Belgium. Methods This observational cross-sectional study recruited individuals with a history of injecting drug use who had achieved the end of treatment response to any DAA treatment between 2015 and 2020. Participants were offered a post-treatment HCV RNA test. Results Eighty-five potential participants were eligible to participate and contacted, of whom 60 participants were enrolled in the study with a median age of 51.0 (IQR 44.3–56.0) years; it was reported that 23.3% continued to inject drugs intravenously after DAA treatment. Liver cirrhosis was present in 12.9%. The majority had genotype 1a (51.7%) or genotype 3 (15.0%) infection. We detected no reinfections in this study population. The total time patients were followed up for reinfection in the study was 78.5 PY (median 1.0 years IQR 0.4–2.0). Conclusion Reinfection after successful treatment with DAA initially appears to be very low in Belgian PWID. Therefore, efforts should be made to screen individuals with persistent risk behaviors for reinfection systematically. In addition, a national HCV registry should be established to accurately define the burden of HCV infection and reinfection in Belgium and support the elimination of viral hepatitis C in Europe. Trial registration clinicaltrials.gov NCT04251572, Registered 5 Feb 2020–Retrospectively registered, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04251572.

scholarly journals USE OF CROSS-SECTIONAL DATA TO ESTIMATE FORCE OF INFECTIONFOR HIV INFECTION AND HEPATITIS C - ABSENCE OF CONSTANT RISK

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 78-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
A N Barinova ◽  
S L Plavinski ◽  
N H Vingradova
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Hiv Infection ◽  
Drug Users ◽  
Injecting Drug Users ◽  
Reproductive Rate ◽  
Risk Of Infection ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Force Of Infection

Injecting drug users (IDU) have high risk of acquisition of HIV and other blood-borne viruses, because they frequently share needles, syringes and other injecting paraphernalia. The article describes methodology of estimating force of infection for blood-borne diseases from data on prevalence and injection length. Based on results from 5429 IDU surveyed between 2006 and 2013 it was found that force of infection is at maximum during first months after starting injecting - 0,38 (95%CI=0,24 .. 0,51) for HIV infection and 1,03 (95%CI=0,61 .. 1,46) for hepatitis C. After that risk of infection significantly decrease but is not zero. Also basic reproductive rate by regions and periods of study was estimates. Importance of this approach for public health is demonstrated.

scholarly journals Prevalence of hepatitis C viral infection among injecting drug users in a Saudi Arabian hospital: A point cross sectional survey

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Osama A. Alibrahim ◽  
Yusuf A. Misau ◽  
Alkali Mohammed ◽  
Mohammad Bashir Faruk ◽  
Izzeldin SS
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Drug Users ◽  
Venous Blood ◽  
Injecting Drug Users ◽  
Morbidity And Mortality ◽  
Hepatitis C Infection ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Drug Induced ◽  
Cross Sectional

Hepatitis C Virus is an important cause of preventable morbidity and mortality among Injecting Drug Users worldwide. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence and correlations of HCV infection among IDUs in Saudi Arabia. A point cross-sectional survey was conducted between May 2012 and Nov 2012 to determine hepatitis C viral antibodies serological status using venous blood among IDUs (N=300) accessing care at Al-Amal Hospital in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as well as to determine clinical correlates of hepatitis C infection among the Injecting Drug Users. There was an overall HCV prevalence of 42.7% among IDUs studied. Low level primary education, single marital status, being unemployed and commencing Injecting Drugs beyond the age of 15 years have higher specific prevalence of HCV among IDUs population. There was statistically significant association between clinical assessments of the participants who were abusing drugs generally, dependent on drugs, specifically abusing cocaine, amphetamines, opioids, cannabinoids and alcohol with HCV antibodies seropositivity. There was no statistical significant relationship between drug induced sleep/sexual disorder and psychosis/delusion with HCV seropositivity. This study demonstrated a relatively high prevalence of HCV among IDUs in KSA. Targeted public health preventive strategies are necessary to halt the spread of HCV among IDUs in KSA. The resultant benefits of these will include reduction in morbidity and mortality as well as improved socioeconomic wellbeing of the IDU’s population.

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