Disentangling the HIV and HCV Epidemics

The incidence of HIV infection declined significantly among urban drug users, but the incidence of HCV infection did not.

Compared with HIV, hepatitis C virus (HCV) is more easily transmitted by blood and is thus more prevalent in drug-using communities. Unfortunately, the harm-reduction measures that appear to have reduced the incidence of HIV infection have had less effect on the HCV epidemic. A recent analysis supports these observations.

Researchers compared the prevalence and incidence of HIV and HCV infection among four cohorts of active injection-drug users in Baltimore: 246 enrolled in 1988–1989, 379 enrolled in 1994–1995, 232 enrolled in 1998, and 874 enrolled in 2005–2008. Injection practices varied across the cohorts, with the earliest cohort and the most recent one having the highest prevalence of needle-sharing and attendance at shooting galleries.…

Reviewing Author

Abigail Zuger, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Abigail Zuger, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Disentangling the HIV and HCV Epidemics

Topics

Reviewing Author