BMJ 1998;317:424-425 ( 15 August )

Editorials

HIV and hepatitis C among injecting drug users

Success in preventing HIV has not been mirrored for hepatitis C

Papers p   433  

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Injecting drug users have been capable of reducing their risky behaviour in the face of the HIV-AIDS epidemic.1 To many this risk reduction, shown in numerous studies from different parts of the world, was unexpected as drug users are often regarded as self destructive. Nevertheless, because of the decrease in risky behaviour, the incidence of HIV infection among drug users in most industrialised countries has declined over the years. Thus, in this issue, van Beek et al report that among young injecting drug users in Sydney the incidence of HIV infection in 1992-5 was only 0.2 per 100 person years (p 433).2 Not so good is their finding that the incidence of infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) was extremely high: 21 per 100 person years; among those aged under 20 the rate was 76 per 100 person years. Other groups from different countries have also reported a continuing high prevalence and incidence of hepatitis C virus . . . [Full text of this article]
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Relevant Article

Infection with HIV and hepatitis C virus among injecting drug users in a prevention setting: retrospective cohort study
Ingrid van Beek, Robyn Dwyer, Gregory J Dore, Kehui Luo, and John M Kaldor
BMJ 1998 317: 433-437. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Smyth, B. P, Barry, J., Keenan, E. (2005). Irish injecting drug users and hepatitis C: the importance of the social context of injecting. Int J Epidemiol 34: 166-172 [Abstract] [Full text]  
  • Smyth, B P, O'Connor, J J, Barry, J, Keenan, E (2003). Retrospective cohort study examining incidence of HIV and hepatitis C infection among injecting drug users in Dublin. J. Epidemiol. Community Health 57: 310-311 [Full text]  
  • Pollack, H. A. (2001). Cost-effectiveness of Harm Reduction in Preventing Hepatitis C among Injection Drug Users. Med Decis Making 21: 357-367 [Abstract]  
  • Crofts, N., Caruana, S., Bowden, S., Kerger, M. (2000). Minimising harm from hepatitis C virus needs better strategies. BMJ 321: 899-899 [Full text]  
  • Ford, P.M., Pearson, M., Sankar-Mistry, P., Stevenson, T., Bell, D., Austin, J. (2000). HIV, hepatitis C and risk behaviour in a Canadian medium-security federal penitentiary. QJM 93: 113-119 [Abstract] [Full text]  

Rapid Responses:

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