Syringe-sharing behaviors among injection drug users (IDUs) are typically based on self-reports and subject to socially desirable responding. We used 3 short tandem repeat (STR) genetic biomarkers to detect sharing in 2,512 syringes exchanged by 315 IDUs in the Baltimore needle exchange program (NEP; 738 person-visits). Demographic characteristics as well as direct and indirect needle-sharing b...

BACKGROUND Hepatitis B infection in injecting drug users is an important public health problem. Active immunization against hepatitis B is immunogenic and safe, but uptake rates in targeted vaccination programmes are low. This study was undertaken to identify factors associated with the uptake of hepatitis B vaccination in injecting drug users attending a needle exchange service. METHODS A re...

BACKGROUND The cost-effectiveness of Canada's only supervised injection facility has not been rigorously evaluated. We estimated the impact of the facility on survival, rates of HIV and hepatitis C virus infection, referral to methadone maintenance treatment and associated costs. METHODS We simulated the population of Vancouver, British Columbia, including injection drug users and persons inf...

BACKGROUND HIV prevalence is high and risky injection practices occur frequently among injecting drug users (IDUs) in Nepal. We explored the correlates of sharing injection equipment (having injected with a needle or syringe previously used by another) among male IDUs in Kathmandu, Nepal. METHODS From August to September 2007, we anonymously interviewed 296 male IDUs in Kathmandu, Nepal, usin...

BACKGROUND In order to prevent the spread of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) amongst people who inject drugs (PWID), it is imperative that any injecting risk behaviour which may contribute to the transmission of disease has its role quantified. To inform public health organisations, mathematical modelling techniques were used to explore the risk of HCV infection through the sharing of injecting par...

Introduction HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) involves taking antiretroviral medication after potential exposure to HIV to reduce the probability of becoming infected. New York State recommends PEP following certain occupational (e.g., needle sticks by healthcare workers) and non-occupational (e.g., sexual and needle-sharing activities) exposures.1 Little information exists on the uptake of ...

results in the first series, cellularity and blood levels were significantly lower in capillary-fnb compared with cfnb (p < 0.001 and p = 0.011, respectively). there was no significant difference between cfnb and vacfnb in cellularity and blood (p = 0.15 and p = 0.1, respectively). in the second series, cellularity was significantly higher in cfnb compared with vacfnb (p < 0.001) with no signif...

This paper presents a mathematical model of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Kunming, the provincial capital of Yunnan, China. The population is divided into several groups, with individuals possibly changing group. Two transmission routes of HIV are considered: needle sharing between injecting drug users (IDUs) and commercial sex between female sex worker (FSWs) and clients. The model includes male ID...

Background: Needle-syringe programs (NSP) have been running in Iran since 2002. However, the coverage of such program among the NSP clients at the individual level was not studies yet. This study aimed to determine the client coverage of NSP and its correlation with high injection-related risk behaviors. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Kermanshah province, Iran, in 2014. 230 ...