Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Continued transmission of hepatitis B and C viruses, but no transmission of human immunodeficiency virus among intravenous drug users participating in a syringe/needle exchange program

Månsson, Ann-Sofie LU ; Moestrup, Torkil ; Nordenfelt, Erik and Widell, Anders LU (2000) In Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases 32(3). p.253-258
Abstract
The virological efficacy of a syringe/needle exchange program was evaluated in a cohort incidence study. Of 698 intravenous drug users (IVDUs) initially recruited, 15 (2.1%) were HIV-positive at baseline. Adequate follow-up was possible in 515 (74%) and showed no new cases of HIV infection during a median of 31 months. Most IVDUs had been previously exposed to HBV (anti-HBc-positive 70.1%) and HCV (anti-HCV-positive 90.7%). Of those 159 IVDUs negative at baseline for anti-HBc and/or anti-HCV, 56 (35%) seroconverted to one or both viruses during follow-up, corresponding to 11.7 seroconversions/100 y at risk for HBV and 26.3 seroconversions/100 y for HCV. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed hepatitis seroconversion to correlate with... (More)
The virological efficacy of a syringe/needle exchange program was evaluated in a cohort incidence study. Of 698 intravenous drug users (IVDUs) initially recruited, 15 (2.1%) were HIV-positive at baseline. Adequate follow-up was possible in 515 (74%) and showed no new cases of HIV infection during a median of 31 months. Most IVDUs had been previously exposed to HBV (anti-HBc-positive 70.1%) and HCV (anti-HCV-positive 90.7%). Of those 159 IVDUs negative at baseline for anti-HBc and/or anti-HCV, 56 (35%) seroconverted to one or both viruses during follow-up, corresponding to 11.7 seroconversions/100 y at risk for HBV and 26.3 seroconversions/100 y for HCV. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed hepatitis seroconversion to correlate with imprisonment during the study (OR 2.2; 95% CI 1.04-4.74), absence of drug-free periods (OR 5.7; CI 1.44-22.3) and frequent syringe/needle exchanges (OR 1.31; CI 1.02-1.7). The absence of HIV spread was probably partly due to the low prevalence of HIV-infected IVDUs in the city. Despite free syringes and needles, both HBV and HCV continued to spread at high rates. Nevertheless, syringe/needle exchange programs, coupled with monitoring of serostatus provide good surveillance and are valuable for further assessment of remaining risks. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases
volume
32
issue
3
pages
253 - 258
publisher
Informa Healthcare
external identifiers
  • pmid:10879594
  • scopus:0033891412
ISSN
1651-1980
DOI
10.1080/00365540050165875
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
625d9ccd-3ceb-4822-bc06-d618a1232d89 (old id 1116435)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 16:34:39
date last changed
2022-01-28 20:39:29
@article{625d9ccd-3ceb-4822-bc06-d618a1232d89,
  abstract     = {{The virological efficacy of a syringe/needle exchange program was evaluated in a cohort incidence study. Of 698 intravenous drug users (IVDUs) initially recruited, 15 (2.1%) were HIV-positive at baseline. Adequate follow-up was possible in 515 (74%) and showed no new cases of HIV infection during a median of 31 months. Most IVDUs had been previously exposed to HBV (anti-HBc-positive 70.1%) and HCV (anti-HCV-positive 90.7%). Of those 159 IVDUs negative at baseline for anti-HBc and/or anti-HCV, 56 (35%) seroconverted to one or both viruses during follow-up, corresponding to 11.7 seroconversions/100 y at risk for HBV and 26.3 seroconversions/100 y for HCV. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed hepatitis seroconversion to correlate with imprisonment during the study (OR 2.2; 95% CI 1.04-4.74), absence of drug-free periods (OR 5.7; CI 1.44-22.3) and frequent syringe/needle exchanges (OR 1.31; CI 1.02-1.7). The absence of HIV spread was probably partly due to the low prevalence of HIV-infected IVDUs in the city. Despite free syringes and needles, both HBV and HCV continued to spread at high rates. Nevertheless, syringe/needle exchange programs, coupled with monitoring of serostatus provide good surveillance and are valuable for further assessment of remaining risks.}},
  author       = {{Månsson, Ann-Sofie and Moestrup, Torkil and Nordenfelt, Erik and Widell, Anders}},
  issn         = {{1651-1980}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{253--258}},
  publisher    = {{Informa Healthcare}},
  series       = {{Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases}},
  title        = {{Continued transmission of hepatitis B and C viruses, but no transmission of human immunodeficiency virus among intravenous drug users participating in a syringe/needle exchange program}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00365540050165875}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/00365540050165875}},
  volume       = {{32}},
  year         = {{2000}},
}