Survey of Hepatitis B and C in Addiction Treatment Unit1*
2000, Vol. 26, No. 4
,
Pages 703-707
Vasant P. Dhopesh, M.D.1,2, Keitha R. Taylor, R.N.C.1 and William M. Burke, M.D.3
1Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, University of Pennsylvania/VA Center for Studies of Addiction, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
2Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (116A), University of Pennsylvania/VA Center for Studies of Addiction, University and Woodland Avenues, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, U.S.A.
3Unitedhealthcare Care Management Center, Westborough, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
The survey on our unit revealed that 80% of injection drug users (IDUs) had hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAB), and 90% had hepatitis C virus antibody (HCVAB). Less than half of each group did not know or were unsure of the mode of transmission and spread of HCV. These findings emphasize the need to focus on education, especially about transmission of hepatitis B and C infection in drug addicts, particularly IDUs.
