Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Intravenous Drug Users: Prevalence and Risk Factors

Enrico Girardi USL RM/10 AIDS Unit, Rome, Italy

Mauro Zaccarelli USL RM/10 AIDS Unit, Rome, Italy; Drug Assistance Center, Rome, Italy

Gianna Tossini Laboratory, “L. Spallanzani” Hospital for Infectious Diseases, Rome, Italy

Vincenzo Puro USL RM/10 AIDS Unit, Rome, Italy

Pasquale Narciso 2nd Division, “L. Spallanzani” Hospital for Infectious Diseases, Rome, Italy

Giuseppe Visco 2nd Division, “L. Spallanzani” Hospital for Infectious Diseases, Rome, Italy

Abstract

We investigated the relation of drug use and sexual behaviour to hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among 80 intravenous drug users (IVDU) attending a methadone treatment program in Rome. Antibodies to HCV (anti-HCV) were found in 54/80 of IVDU (67.5%). Presence of anti-HCV was associated with duration of intravenous drug use and frequency of needle sharing (p<0.003 and p=0.02, respectively, by chi-square for trend). No association was found between sexual behaviour and anti-HCV prevalence.

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Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Intravenous Drug Users: Prevalence and Risk Factors

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