Publications by authors named "Claire Edmundson"
Article Synopsis
- Crack use is notably higher in the UK compared to other European countries, particularly among people who inject drugs (PWID), with a significant increase in crack injection reported from 2011 to 2021.
- The study found that crack injection is more common among males and is often done alongside heroin, with behaviors like sharing needles and injecting in the groin increasing risks for blood-borne viruses and infections.
- The findings highlight the urgent need for harm reduction strategies and drug treatment programs to address the rising prevalence of crack injection and its associated health risks.
Article Synopsis
- - The study analyzes the trends and epidemiology of HIV among people who inject drugs in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland from 1981-2019, indicating a low prevalence of HIV in this group despite some fluctuations over the years.
- - From 1987 to 2019, HIV diagnoses among injectors decreased significantly, but late diagnosis remained a concern, with over half diagnosed late in recent years; however, treatment uptake is high among those engaged in care.
- - The report emphasizes the importance of harm reduction programs in containing the HIV epidemic within this population, while noting that risky behaviors, like needle sharing, pose ongoing risks and the potential for future outbreaks.
Article Synopsis
- Fixed low dead space syringes (LDSS) retain less blood post-injection than detachable needle syringes, but their impact on reducing blood-borne virus transmission is not well-studied.
- A study using UK data from 2016 to 2019 involved 1,429 people who inject drugs (PWID) to investigate the association between syringe type and hepatitis C virus infection.
- Results showed that always using fixed LDSS was linked to a 76% lower likelihood of recent hepatitis C virus infection among antibody-negative PWID compared to those using detachable needle syringes.
Direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy for anybody with viraemic HCV infection has been scaled-up in England since 2017. To assess early impacts, we investigated trends in, and factors associated with, HCV viraemia among people who inject drugs (PWID). We also examined trends in self-reported treatment access.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The National HPV Immunisation Programme was introduced in England in September 2008 using the HPV16/18 bivalent vaccine. We conducted serological surveillance to explore vaccination coverage levels. We also conducted a case-control study to investigate a hypothesised cross-protective effect of the HPV16/18 vaccine against genital warts.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Historically, individuals using image and performance enhancing drugs (IPED) were not considered at high risk for HIV and hepatitis C, but recent studies show a significant number of these users are actually at risk, with many undiagnosed cases.
- The study involved 562 men who inject IPEDs, who completed questionnaires about their drug use and testing for HCV/HIV, revealing that one-third had ever been tested, with sharing needles and poor condom use being common risk factors.
- The findings suggest most participants were untested for HCV/HIV, highlighting the need for more targeted interventions, especially for those not utilizing health services, and promoting the integration of metabolic testing with HCV/HIV testing to enhance health monitoring and
Background: People who inject drugs (PWID) are at high risk of injection-related skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI). If not treated promptly, these can lead to serious health complications, which are a considerable healthcare burden. Data from two community surveys, with different approaches, were used to assess SSTI prevalence and associated factors among PWID to inform intervention implementation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: People who inject image and performance enhancing drugs (IPEDs) are often the largest group using needle and syringe programmes (NSPs) in the UK. NSP providers report these clients repeatedly collecting large amounts of equipment for others. The extent of secondary distribution of injecting equipment is unknown.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The national human papillomavirus (HPV) immunization program was introduced in England in September 2008 using the bivalent vaccine.
Methods: We collected residual vulva-vaginal swab specimens from 16 to 24-year-old women attending for chlamydia screening between 2010 and 2016 and tested for HPV DNA. We compared changes in type-specific (vaccine and nonvaccine) HPV prevalence over time and association with vaccination coverage.
Background: Sexualised drug use (SDU) refers to the use of drugs in a sexual context. This includes 'Chemsex'- the use of drugs (specifically crystal methamphetamine, GHB/GBL and mephedrone) before or during planned sexual activity to sustain, enhance, disinhibit or facilitate the experience. Here we aimed to synthesise available UK prevalence data for Chemsex, SDU and the use of Chemsex drugs in an undefined context (CDU) in men who have sex with men (MSM).
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- Higher levels of drug use, particularly related to chemsex, were observed in LGBT communities, prompting a study on the drug use patterns among people who inject drugs (PWID) in the UK.
- An anonymous survey from 2013-2016 included sexually active PWID, comparing drug use between MSM, WSW, and their heterosexual counterparts, while excluding GHB/GBL and methamphetamine.
- Results showed MSM and WSW had higher rates of drug use linked with chemsex, such as mephedrone and ketamine, compared to heterosexual individuals; revealing distinct injecting and non-injecting drug behaviors between the groups.