Hepatitis vaccination among drug users.

Hepatitis virus infections are traditionally a major health problem among drug users (DUs). Several factors may favor the rapid spread of hepatitis infection in this category of patients. HBV and HCV are easily transmitted through exposure to infected blood and body fluids. DUs often prepare and use drug solutions together. Many in the DU community are infected and this provides multiple opportunities for transmission to others. Many of these patients with chronic hepatitis virus infection are not aware of their infections and this facilitates the spread of the diseases. Viral hepatitis is not inevitable for DUs. Although multiple factors have prevented the development of vaccines for hepatitis C, both hepatitis A and hepatitis B can be prevented by immunization. The purpose of this overview is to summarize and discuss the hepatitis vaccination in this population.