Objectives: Hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) is a major public health problem among drug users. Screening for hepatitis C virus in this population is complicated. The aim of the study was to describe a community-based screening experience conducted by the Tours university hospital addiction medicine team.

Methods: Between 2008 and 2010, a free 14-day HCV, hepatitis B virus (HBV) and HIV community-based screening programme was conducted by the addiction medicine and prevention team. A questionnaire collected the main risk factors for transmission of these viruses and the subject's viral serology status.

Results: 76% of the 219 screened subjects reported being drug users. HCV prevalence was 20%. Risk factors for HCV infection were exclusive intravenous use and the use of several routes of administration. Among the 30 HCV patients with positive RNA, 83% were followed up.

Conclusions: The prevalence of HCV infection was similar to that reported in the literature for drug users, whereas the number of patients treated and followed up was higher than in the literature. A community-based screening experience facilitated initiation and follow-up of medical care.

Download full-text PDF

Source

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

hepatitis virus
12
drug users
12
community-based screening
12
screening experience
8
addiction medicine
8
risk factors
8
hcv infection
8
hcv
6
[community-based screening
4
screening motivating
4

Similar Publications

[Acceptability and screening outcomes for hepatitis B, C and human inmunodeficiency virus using rapid diagnostic tests in patients undergoing outpatient endoscopy].

Rev Gastroenterol Peru

January 2025

Departamento de Gastroenterología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile; Departamento de Gastroenterología, Hospital Sótero del Río, Santiago, Chile.

Introduction: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are a global public health concern. In 2019, there were 295.9 million people with chronic hepatitis B and 57.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: 58 million people worldwide are chronically infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and are at risk of developing cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Direct-acting antivirals are highly effective; however, they are burdened by high costs and the unchanged risk of HCC and reinfection, making prophylactic countermeasures an urgent medical need. HCV high genetic diversity is one of the main obstacles to vaccine development.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

A combined AFM/MS method was employed for protein registration in solution. This method is based on reversible specific capturing of a target protein from a large volume of analyzed solution onto a small sensor area of a chip with immobilized aptamer ligands. Fishing of the core antigen of hepatitis C virus (HCVcoreAg) from 10 M solution of this protein in buffer was carried out.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: With improved outcomes in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) due to the use of anti-retroviral therapy, ensuring adequate preventative healthcare and management of HIV-related comorbidities is essential.

Aims: To evaluate adherence with recommended guidelines for comorbidity and immunisation status screening amongst people living with HIV within a hospital-based setting across two timepoints.

Methods: A single-centre retrospective case series was conducted at a hospital between 2011 and 2021.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) has been reported to synergize with hepatitis B virus (HBV) to induce development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Precise daily exposure to AFB1 and its contribution to liver injury have not been quantified and have even been disregarded due to lack of convenient detection, and the strong species specificity of HBV infection has restricted research on their synergistic harm. Hence, our objective was to investigate the molecular mechanisms by which AFB1 exacerbates HBV-related injury.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!