Scientists at Health Protection Agency Center for Infections publish new data on hepatitis C virus prevention
2009 JUL 14 - (NewsRx.com) -- Researchers detail in 'Prevalence and incidence of hepatitis C in injecting drug users attending genitourinary medicine clinics,' new data in hepatitis C virus. "Surveillance 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," scientists in London, the United Kingdom report. "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," wrote M.A. Balogun and colleagues, Health Protection Agency Center for Infections. The researchers concluded: "Even so, such studies allow prevalence and incidence to be estimated in individuals who have ever injected drugs and inform ongoing public health surveillance." Balogun and colleagues published their study in Epidemiology and Infection (Prevalence and incidence of hepatitis C in injecting drug users attending genitourinary medicine clinics. Epidemiology and Infection, 2009;137(7):980-7). For additional information, contact M.A. Balogun, Health Protection Agency Centre for Infections, Immunisation Department, London, UK. The publisher's contact information for the journal Epidemiology and Infection is: Cambridge University Press, 32 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10013-2473. Keywords: United Kingdom, London, Hepatitis C Virus Prevention, Epidemics, Epidemiology, Gastroenterology, Genitourinary Medicine, HCV, Hepatitis C Virus, Hepatology, Infectious Disease, Regulatory Actions, Virology. This article was prepared by World Disease Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, World Disease Weekly via NewsRx.com.
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