Incidence and prevalence of hepatitis C among clients of a Brisbane methadone clinic: factors influencing hepatitis C serostatus

Selvey, Linda; Denton, M. D.; Plant, Aileen J.

doi:10.1111/j.1467-842x.1977.tb00976.x

Cited by 7 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Studies conducted in methadone maintenance programs have yielded results showing the seroprevalence of HCV in methadone patients ranges from 67-84% [82][83][84][85]. Since methadone maintenance treatment effectively reduces and often eliminates heroin injection, lower HCV incidence rates have been expected [83][84][85]. The factors contributing to HCV seroconversion during methadone maintenance treatment include an inadequate methadone dose [86][87][88].…”

Section: Methadone and Hcvmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…HCV infection is a common and potentially serious disease among methadone maintenance patients. Studies conducted in methadone maintenance programs have yielded results showing the seroprevalence of HCV in methadone patients ranges from 67-84% [82][83][84][85]. Since methadone maintenance treatment effectively reduces and often eliminates heroin injection, lower HCV incidence rates have been expected [83][84][85].…”

Section: Methadone and Hcvmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Drug abuse, innate immunity and hepatitis C virus

Zhang

2006

Reviews in Medical Virology

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Since its discovery in 1989, hepatitis C virus (HCV) has become a major public health problem. HCV chronically infects an estimated 170 million people worldwide. The seroprevalence of anti-HCV antibody in the United States has been estimated at 1.8%, which corresponds to approximately 4 million people. HCV is the most common chronic blood borne infection in the United States, and the leading cause of liver transplantation in developed countries. Injection drug use is the dominant mode of HCV transmission and accounts for up to 90% of current infections. Opiates and other drug abuse, such as alcohol, have been implicated as cofactors in the pathogenesis of HCV disease. Injection drug use has been the most common risk factor identified in alcoholics with HCV infection. Both opiates and alcohol contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality from HCV disease. These drugs most likely act synergistically to promote the development and progression of HCV disease. However, there is limited information available concerning the interaction of the drug abuse with the host cell innate immunity against HCV infection, which is a major barrier to fundamental understanding of the immunopathogenesis of HCV disease. Therefore, defining the role of the drug abuse in the development of chronic HCV infection is of crucial importance and should provide practical guidance toward the reduction of risk factors that interfere with therapeutic approaches for HCV infection and disease. This review paper focuses on the interplay between drug abuse (opiates and alcohol), innate immunity and HCV in the context of the development of HCV disease.

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Section: Methadone and Hcvmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Methadone and Hcvmentioning

confidence: 99%

Drug abuse, innate immunity and hepatitis C virus

Zhang

2006

Reviews in Medical Virology

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“…Less is known about the effect of MMT on HCV transmission, and recent studies have failed to demonstrate significant reductions in HCV seroconversion among methadone treatment patients (Crofts et al, 1997;Selvey et al, 1997;Thiede et al, 2000). Research in this area is divided between studies focusing on seroconversion and studies focusing on behavioral risk factors for infection.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus risk behaviors in polydrug users on methadone maintenance

Willner-Reid

Belendiuk

Epstein

et al. 2008

Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment

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We examined the impact of methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) on risk behaviors for transmission of bloodborne diseases in polydrug users who had tested positive or negative for hepatitis C (HCV). At intake, HCV-positive participants (n = 362) engaged in more HIV risk behaviors (as measured by the HIV Risk-Taking Behaviour Scale; HRBS) than HCV-negative participants (n = 297) (p<.001). This difference was specific to injection-related behaviors and decreased significantly within the first few weeks of MMT (p<.0001). Where needles continued to be used, HCV-positive participants became more likely over time to engage in safer injecting practices. Furthermore HCV-positive participants became more likely to use condoms than HCVnegative participants. These findings demonstrate that both drug-and sex-related risk behaviors decrease during MMT, and emphasize the benefits of methadone programs for public health and HIV/HCV prevention.

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“…Harm Reduction, blood borne viruses and injecting drug users 9 so high (Selvey et al, 1997) that demonstrating prevention can be difficult. It should, however, be effective among those who are not already infected.…”

Section: Wendy Loxley National Drug Research Institute February 2000mentioning

confidence: 99%

Doing the possible: harm reduction, injecting drug use and blood borne viral infections in Australia

Loxley

2000

International Journal of Drug Policy

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Most surveys show that, other than among men who inject drugs and have a history of homosexual contact, the prevalence of HIV infection among injecting drug users (IDUs) in Australia is about 2%. Rates of needle sharing have also declined greatly in the last decade, although the high prevalence and incidence of hepatitis C infection suggest that existing strategies have not yet brought this epidemic under control.Harm reduction has been the major Australian approach to the reduction of blood borne viral infections (BBVIs) in IDUs. Harm reduction strategies include needle distribution schemes, drug substitution therapies and education about safe administration practices. Importantly, with IDUs as with gay men, the infected and affected communities have been brought into partnership with health educators, researchers and policy makers. This paper will review Australia's approach to the prevention of BBVI in IDUs and the effectiveness of current strategies. I will argue that while HIV/AIDS among heterosexual IDUs appears to have been successfully prevented, international experiences of rapidly emerging epidemics demonstrate there is little room for complacency. Moreover, reducing the incidence of hepatitis C and hepatitis B among IDUs remains a major challenge.

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Incidence and prevalence of hepatitis C among clients of a Brisbane methadone clinic: factors influencing hepatitis C serostatus

Cited by 7 publications

References 14 publications

Drug abuse, innate immunity and hepatitis C virus

Drug abuse, innate immunity and hepatitis C virus

Hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus risk behaviors in polydrug users on methadone maintenance

Doing the possible: harm reduction, injecting drug use and blood borne viral infections in Australia

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