ASSESSING THE EFFECTS OF INTRAVENOUS DRUG USE ON HEPATITIS C TRANSMISSION DYNAMICS

A mathematical model for the transmission dynamics of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) have been proposed and investigated. The model presented looks into preferential sexual contacts between intravenous drug users and non-drug users. The threshold parameters of the model are determined and stabilities analysed. Both analytic and numerical simulations show that increase in intravenous drug use in addition to sex results in an increase of HCV cases. Thus, safe sex and treatment of HCV alone are not enough to curtail the transmission of HCV. Effective control of HCV require strategies that are tailor made for intravenous drug users.

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Substitution treatment or active intravenous drug use should not be contraindications for antiviral treatment in drug users with chronic hepatitis C

Liver International ◽

10.1111/j.1478-3231.2010.02341.x ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 30 (10) ◽

pp. 1454-1460 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Spilios Manolakopoulos ◽

Melanie J. Deutsch ◽

Olga Anagnostou ◽

Stelios Karatapanis ◽

Elli Tiniakou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chronic Hepatitis ◽

Hepatitis C ◽

Drug Use ◽

Chronic Hepatitis C ◽

Drug Users ◽

Antiviral Treatment ◽

Intravenous Drug ◽

Substitution Treatment ◽

Intravenous Drug Use

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Intravenous Drug Use, the Combination of Drugs and Sexual Activity and HIV Infection among Gay and Bisexual Men: The San Francisco Men's Health Study

Journal of Drug Issues ◽

10.1177/002204268901900105 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

pp. 57-73 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Ron Stall ◽

David G. Ostrow

Keyword(s):

Drug Use ◽

Gay Men ◽

San Francisco ◽

Drug Users ◽

Intravenous Drug ◽

Health Study ◽

Intravenous Drug Users ◽

Intravenous Drug Use ◽

Bisexual Men ◽

And Bisexual

This paper describes a sizeable subgroup of the AIDS caseload that has not been widely studied, that is, men with histories of both male homosexual activity and intravenous drug use. In this paper we identify differences and similarities between gay intravenous drug users and gay men with different histories of drug use; examine the relationship between HIV seropositivity and different patterns of drug use; and estimate whether gay intravenous drug users are more likely than other gay men to be a source of continued HIV transmission.

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Characteristics of Chronic Hepatitis C Among Intravenous Drug Users: A Comparative Analysis

Bosnian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences ◽

10.17305/bjbms.2010.2715 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 153-157 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Maja Jovanović ◽

Branislav Jovanović ◽

Milena Potić ◽

Ljiljana Konstantinović ◽

Miodrag Vrbić ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chronic Hepatitis ◽

Hepatitis C ◽

Drug Use ◽

Chronic Hepatitis C ◽

Drug Users ◽

Combined Treatment ◽

Intravenous Drug ◽

Therapy Outcome ◽

Control Group ◽

Intravenous Drug Users

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) usually evades the host’s immune system and persists as a chronic infection. Intravenous drug users (IVDU) represent the majority of patients infected with HCV Combined therapy of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) with peginterferon a-2a and ribavirin can be successful even when patients continue the intravenous drug use. In this study, we compared the characteristics of age, gender, genotype, and stage of fibrosis and the therapy outcome among IVDU and patients with no history of drug use. The study included 69 patients diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C, evaluated and treated at the Clinic for infectious diseases in Nis from 2005 to 2009. HCV RNA was detected by a polymerase chain reaction and the determination of genotypes was undertaken. Liver biopsies were examined histopathologicaly. Patients received a combined treatment of peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin. Therapy efficiency was evaluated based on the achievement of the sustained virological response (SVR). A comparison of characteristics was performed with the use of Mann-Whitney U test, chi-square (χ2) test and logistic regression. IVDU were significantly younger than patients in the control group. Prevalence of stage 1 fibrosis was significantly higher among IVDU. The therapy outcome is influenced by the patient’s age and HCV genotypes. Each year added to one patient decreased the therapy efficiency by 8.1%, while genotypes 2 and 3 experienced a therapy which was 2.08 times more efficient than in other cases. IVDU represent a specific population different from non-using patients. However, they can be treated effectively if an adequate patient-doctor relationship is established.

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Bacteriology of Skin and Soft-Tissue Infections: Comparison of Infections in Intravenous Drug Users and Individuals with No History of Intravenous Drug Use

Clinical Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/clinids/20.supplement_2.s279 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 20 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. S279-S282 ◽

Cited By ~ 103

Author(s):

P. H. Summanen ◽

D. A. Talan ◽

C. Strong ◽

M. McTeague ◽

R. Bennion ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soft Tissue ◽

Drug Use ◽

Drug Users ◽

Intravenous Drug ◽

Intravenous Drug Users ◽

Soft Tissue Infections ◽

Intravenous Drug Use ◽

History Of

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HIV/AIDS Cases According to the Year of Diagnosis and Selected Characteristics of Cases Registered in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina 1991-2004

Bosnian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences ◽

10.17305/bjbms.2006.3189 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

pp. 42-46 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jelena Ravlija ◽

Sandra Puvačić ◽

Zlatko Puvačić ◽

Ivan Curić

Keyword(s):

Drug Use ◽

Bosnia And Herzegovina ◽

Drug Users ◽

Age Groups ◽

Intravenous Drug ◽

Hiv Positive ◽

Intravenous Drug Users ◽

Intravenous Drug Use ◽

Heterosexual Intercourse ◽

Hiv Aids

In the period between 1991-2004, in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina there were altogether 59 registered HIV positive persons, out of those 43 were clinically diagnosed with AIDS. Gender-wise, 83% of the infected were male, and 17% female. The age groups with the highest risk of being infected with HIV are 20-24 and 40-44. The most frequent way of infection is heterosexual intercourse (46%), followed by intravenous drug use (31%), whilst 23% of the registered were infected through homosexual intercourse. Out of 43 diagnosed AIDS cases, 42% are heterosexuals, 35% intravenous drug users, whilst 21 % are homosexual or bisexual. Out of the total number of registered HIV/AIDS cases in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, thirty two died during the mentioned period (54%).

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