Hepatitis C and HIV Coinfection for Social Workers in Public Health, Medical and Substance Use Treatment Settings

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a leading cause of liver disease and liver-related deaths among those living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Due to recent pharmacologic advancements with direct acting antivirals, if detected and treated, HCV antiviral therapy can prevent liver disease progression and permanently cure coinfected patients of HCV. The objectives of this article are to inform public health social workers and social workers in medical and substance use treatment settings of the public health burden of HCV/HIV coinfection and to highlight state-of-the art pharmacologic advancements in HCV antiviral therapy.

Keywords::

• Hepatitis C
• HIV
• liver disease
• testing
• treatment
• social workers
• public health

The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this paper.

Funding

Dr. Sims discloses research support from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Womack has no research support to disclose.