Blood-borne infections in Dublin’s opiate users

Blood-borne infections in Dublin's opiate users.

BACKGROUND Injecting drug users are at high risk of acquiring blood-borne infections. Ireland has had a harm reduction policy of methadone maintenance and needle exchange since 1992. AIM To estimate prevalence of hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV infection and appropriate uptake of hepatitis B vaccine in methadone attendees and to make recommendations for a simple record-based surveillance sys...

blood-borne infections in tattooed people

conclusions upon our results, tattooed people even with a small size of tattoo on the body are more at risk for hcv, hbv, and hiv infection. results among the 63 patients with tattoos (21% female, 79% male, age range:16 to 79-years-old), four patients (6.3%) tested positive for hbsag and pcr-hbv, seven patients (11%) tested positive for hcv, and five (7.9%) tested positive for hiv. the last gro...

Blood-Borne Hepatitis in Opiate Users in Iran: A Poor Outlook and Urgent Need to Change Nationwide Screening Policy

OBJECTIVE Iran has the highest rate of opiate use worldwide. However, most opiate users are not screened for hepatitis virus infections. This study aimed to provide accurate, detailed data on the size of the opiate user population at risk of developing these infections. METHOD This seroprevalence study was conducted in the city of Shiraz, southern Iran. All participants were screened for HBV,...

the necessity of enhanced harm reduction programs to prevent blood-borne infections amongst injection drug users

Syringe access for the prevention of blood borne infections among injection drug users

BACKGROUND Approximately one-third of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome cases in the United States are associated with the practice of sharing of injection equipment and are preventable through the once-only use of syringes, needles and other injection equipment. DISCUSSION Sterile syringes may be obtained legally by 4 methods depending on the state. They may be purchased over the counter, p...