Abstract
Objectives: To determine whether infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) occurred after two potential episodes of exposure through needle- and syringe-sharing in Australian prisons, and to examine use of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) against HIV infection in the prison setting. Design: Cohort study of potential contacts of two prisoners infected with HIV, HBV and HCV followed up for up to 14 months. Setting: Two Australian prisons between November 2000 (time of exposure) and December 2001. Participants: Two index patients (both infected with HIV and HCV; one also infectious for HBV) from two different prisons, and 104 inmates who shared needles and syringes. Main outcome measures: Seroconversions to HIV, HBV and HCV related to the high-risk exposure and uptake and completion of HIV PEP determined from medical records of inmates. Results: There were four seroconversions to HCV within 14 months of the potential exposure (14% of those susceptible in the cohort), but no recorded HIV or HBV seroconversions. Forty-six inmates (82% of those eligible) were offered PEP, and 34 of these (74%) elected to receive it. Only eight (24% of the 34) completed the full PEP course. Conclusions: HCV transmission in the prison setting is related to high-risk needle- and syringe-sharing. Administering HIV PEP in the prison setting is complicated by challenging risk assessment and follow-up.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 546-549 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Medical Journal of Australia |
| Volume | 178 |
| Issue number | 11 |
| Publication status | Published - 2 Jun 2003 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Cite this
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Hepatitis C transmission and HIV post-exposure prophylaxis after needle- and syringe-sharing in Australian prisons. / O'Sullivan, Belinda G.; Levy, Michael H.; Dolan, Kate A.; Post, Jeffrey J.; Barton, Sharon G.; Dwyer, Dominic E.; Kaldor, John M.; Grulich, Andrew E.
In: Medical Journal of Australia, Vol. 178, No. 11, 02.06.2003, p. 546-549.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - Hepatitis C transmission and HIV post-exposure prophylaxis after needle- and syringe-sharing in Australian prisons
AU - O'Sullivan, Belinda G.
AU - Levy, Michael H.
AU - Dolan, Kate A.
AU - Post, Jeffrey J.
AU - Barton, Sharon G.
AU - Dwyer, Dominic E.
AU - Kaldor, John M.
AU - Grulich, Andrew E.
PY - 2003/6/2
Y1 - 2003/6/2
N2 - Objectives: To determine whether infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) occurred after two potential episodes of exposure through needle- and syringe-sharing in Australian prisons, and to examine use of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) against HIV infection in the prison setting. Design: Cohort study of potential contacts of two prisoners infected with HIV, HBV and HCV followed up for up to 14 months. Setting: Two Australian prisons between November 2000 (time of exposure) and December 2001. Participants: Two index patients (both infected with HIV and HCV; one also infectious for HBV) from two different prisons, and 104 inmates who shared needles and syringes. Main outcome measures: Seroconversions to HIV, HBV and HCV related to the high-risk exposure and uptake and completion of HIV PEP determined from medical records of inmates. Results: There were four seroconversions to HCV within 14 months of the potential exposure (14% of those susceptible in the cohort), but no recorded HIV or HBV seroconversions. Forty-six inmates (82% of those eligible) were offered PEP, and 34 of these (74%) elected to receive it. Only eight (24% of the 34) completed the full PEP course. Conclusions: HCV transmission in the prison setting is related to high-risk needle- and syringe-sharing. Administering HIV PEP in the prison setting is complicated by challenging risk assessment and follow-up.
AB - Objectives: To determine whether infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) occurred after two potential episodes of exposure through needle- and syringe-sharing in Australian prisons, and to examine use of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) against HIV infection in the prison setting. Design: Cohort study of potential contacts of two prisoners infected with HIV, HBV and HCV followed up for up to 14 months. Setting: Two Australian prisons between November 2000 (time of exposure) and December 2001. Participants: Two index patients (both infected with HIV and HCV; one also infectious for HBV) from two different prisons, and 104 inmates who shared needles and syringes. Main outcome measures: Seroconversions to HIV, HBV and HCV related to the high-risk exposure and uptake and completion of HIV PEP determined from medical records of inmates. Results: There were four seroconversions to HCV within 14 months of the potential exposure (14% of those susceptible in the cohort), but no recorded HIV or HBV seroconversions. Forty-six inmates (82% of those eligible) were offered PEP, and 34 of these (74%) elected to receive it. Only eight (24% of the 34) completed the full PEP course. Conclusions: HCV transmission in the prison setting is related to high-risk needle- and syringe-sharing. Administering HIV PEP in the prison setting is complicated by challenging risk assessment and follow-up.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0038378937&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
C2 - 12765501
AN - SCOPUS:0038378937
VL - 178
SP - 546
EP - 549
JO - Medical Journal of Australia
JF - Medical Journal of Australia
SN - 0025-729X
IS - 11
ER -