Screening for hepatitis B and vaccination of injecting drug users in NHS drug treatment services.
Hepatitis B vaccines are now available for people at high risk of infection. Injecting drug users are at particular risk. A UK national survey of statutory drug treatment facilities was conducted to assess what screening and vaccination procedures were offered to drug takers. Of the respondents 64% did not screen for hepatitis B and 71% did not offer vaccination to hepatitis B negative individuals. However, 63% respondents said they would advise vaccination for injecting drug users who continued to share. Fifty-eight per cent thought that the partners of hepatitis B positive clients should be screened and 50% thought that vaccination of partners was advisable. A policy of screening and vaccination for hepatitis B is recommended.
Farrell
M
M
Addiction Research Unit National Addiction Centre, London, UK.
Battersby
M
M
Strang
J
J
D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D013222:State Medicine; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006113:United Kingdom; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines