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 system. METHOD: Retrospective study of 138 client records for evidence of laboratory tests or test results for blood-borne viruses and appropriate immunisation against hepatitis B. RESULTS: A total of 60% of clients had evidence of one or more laboratory tests in their notes. Of those tested for individual viruses, 5.1% were positive for hepatitis B surface antigen, 78.8% had antibodies to hepatitis C and 16.7% were HIV positive. Nearly two-thirds of clients had no evidence of vaccination or information on prior immunity in their records. CONCLUSIONS: A standardised written protocol for screening for blood-borne viruses and for immunisation against hepatitis B in methadone service attendees was clearly needed, and was subsequently introduced by the Eastern Region Health Authority.
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 system. METHOD: Retrospective study of 138 client records for evidence of laboratory tests or test results for blood-borne viruses and appropriate immunisation against hepatitis B. RESULTS: A total of 60% of clients had evidence of one or more laboratory tests in their notes. Of those tested for individual viruses, 5.1% were positive for hepatitis B surface antigen, 78.8% had antibodies to hepatitis C and 16.7% were HIV positive. Nearly two-thirds of clients had no evidence of vaccination or information on prior immunity in their records. CONCLUSIONS: A standardised written protocol for screening for blood-borne viruses and for immunisation against hepatitis B in methadone service attendees was clearly needed, and was subsequently introduced by the Eastern Region Health Authority.
Authors: B Schwartländer; R S Janssen; G A Satten; S E Critchley; L R Petersen; T J Dondero Journal: Public Health Rep Date: 1994 Jan-Feb Impact factor: 2.792
Authors: Gianluca Quaglio; Fabio Lugoboni; Cristian Pattaro; Linda Montanari; Alessandro Lechi; Paolo Mezzelani; Don C Des Jarlais Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2006-08-23 Impact factor: 3.295