Evidence for a substantial role of sharing of injecting paraphernalia other than syringes/needles to the spread of hepatitis C among injecting drug users

In industrialized countries, transmission of hepatitis C occurs primarily through injecting drug use. Transmission of hepatitis C in injecting drug users is mainly associated with the sharing of contaminated syringes/needles, although evidence for risk of hepatitis C infection through sharing of oth...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of viral hepatitis 2006-08, Vol.13 (8), p.560-570
Main Authors: Mathei, C., Shkedy, Z., Denis, B., Kabali, C., Aerts, M., Molenberghs, G., Van Damme, P., Buntinx, F.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Belgium
Disease Transmission, Infectious
Female
force of infection
Hepacivirus - growth & development
hepatitis C
Hepatitis C Antibodies - blood
Hepatitis C, Chronic - epidemiology
Hepatitis C, Chronic - transmission
Humans
injecting drug use
Male
Middle Aged
modelling
Models, Biological
Needle Sharing
Prevalence
Seroepidemiologic Studies
sharing behaviour
Substance Abuse, Intravenous - virology
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Summary:In industrialized countries, transmission of hepatitis C occurs primarily through injecting drug use. Transmission of hepatitis C in injecting drug users is mainly associated with the sharing of contaminated syringes/needles, although evidence for risk of hepatitis C infection through sharing of other injecting paraphernalia is increasing. In this paper, the independent effects of sharing paraphernalia other than syringes/needles have been estimated. The prevalence and force of infection were modelled using three serological data sets from drug users in three centres in Belgium as a function of the sharing behaviour. It was found that sharing of materials other than syringes/needles indeed seemed to contribute substantially to the spread of hepatitis C among injecting drug users.
ISSN:1352-0504
1365-2893
DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2893.2006.00725.x