Hepatitis B vaccination of men who have sex with men attending an urban STD clinic: impact of an ongoing vaccination program, 1998-2003.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of an ongoing hepatitis B vaccination service offered in an urban sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic.

Study Design: During the period 1998-2003, hepatitis B vaccine acceptance, series completion, and vaccine coverage rates were evaluated among men who have sex with men (MSM) and other clients attending the main STD clinic in San Diego County, California.

Results: Among 21,631 STD clinic attendees, 81% were eligible to start and 69% accepted hepatitis B vaccination.

Low prevalence of hepatitis C virus antibody in men who have sex with men who do not inject drugs.

Objective: It is well documented that injection drug users (IDUs) have a high prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCV). Sexual transmission of HCV can occur, but studies have shown that men who have sex with men (MSM) without a history of injection drug use are not at increased risk for infection. Still, some health-care providers believe that all MSM should be routinely tested for HCV infection.

Medical care and alcohol use after testing hepatitis C antibody positive at STD clinic and HIV test site screening programs.

Objectives: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend screening individuals at risk for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. However, few published data describe outcomes of individuals with antibody to HCV (anti-HCV) identified through screening programs. The purpose of this study was to assess rates of medical evaluation and HCV treatment, change in alcohol consumption, and barriers to medical care after testing anti-HCV positive through a public screening program.

Partner notification for persons with chronic hepatitis B virus infection: use of a syphilis model service.

Background: Adults with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection are usually the source of infection for persons who acquire sexually transmitted HBV infection. Vaccinating sex- and needle-sharing partners is recommended.

Goal: To evaluate the usefulness of a syphilis model partner notification (PN) service for high-risk persons with chronic HBV infection.

Integrating hepatitis, STD, and HIV services into a drug rehabilitation program.

Background: Considering the difficulties in providing screening and vaccination services for inmates in short-stay incarceration facilities, an evaluation was conducted of the integration of prevention services in an alternative sentencing drug rehabilitation program (alternative to incarceration) in San Diego CA.

Methods: During the period April 1999 to December 2002, clients were asked to complete a brief risk-assessment questionnaire, and were offered hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination, HBV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) serologic testing, STD screening, and HIV counseling and testing.

Results: Of the estimated 1125 rehabilitation program enrollees, 930 (83%) participated in the integration program services.

Evaluation of screening criteria to identify persons with hepatitis C virus infection among sexually transmitted disease clinic clients: results from the San Diego Viral Hepatitis Integration Project.

Background: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 1.8% of the US population is infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), and most are unaware of their infection.

Goal: The goal was to evaluate risk-based HCV screening criteria for clients attending an urban sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic.