Hepatitis C virus infection, HIV co-infection, and associated risk among injecting drug users in Togliatti, Russia.

The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and co-infection with HIV among injecting drug users (IDUs) in Togliatti City, Russia. Unlinked anonymous cross-sectional survey of IDUs recruited from community settings, with oral fluid sample collection for HCV and HIV antibody (anti-HCV, anti-HIV) testing, was carried out. The anti-HCV prevalence was 87% (357/411), anti-HIV prevalence 56% (234/418), and 93% (214/230) of HIV-positive IDUs were co-infected with HCV.

Explosive spread and high prevalence of HIV infection among injecting drug users in Togliatti City, Russia.

Objective: To establish the prevalence of antibodies to HIV (anti-HIV) and associated risk factors among injecting drug users (IDU) in Togliatti City, Samara Oblast, Russian Federation.

Design: An unlinked anonymous cross-sectional community recruited survey with oral fluid sample collection.

Methods: Between September and October 2001, 426 IDU were recruited by trained fieldworkers.