title: HIV, HTLV-1, and HBV infections in a cohort of Italian intravenous drug abusers: analysis of risk factors.
abstract: A seroepidemiological survey of a group of 291 intravenous drug abusers (IVDAs), 45 household contacts of IVDAs, and 39 laboratory workers has been carried out to determine the prevalence of HIV-1, HIV-2, HTLV-1, and HBV antibodies in the sera, as well as to evaluate the role of various risk factors. Among i.v. drug abusers, the prevalence was 32.3% for HIV-1 and 6.6% for HTLV-1. For both viruses, the total figures did not significantly change from 1985 through 1987, accounting for a slow viral circulation in this group. No seropositivity (HIV-1, HTLV-1) was found among laboratory workers, whereas one subject was found seropositive for HIV-1 among household contacts. From 1985 to 1986, 5 out of 58 subjects seronegative for HIV-1 and 5 out of 82 seronegative for HTLV-1 seroconverted (incidence rates of 8.6 and 6.1%, respectively). From 1986 to 1987, none out of 11 seronegatives for HIV and 1 out of 16 seronegatives for HTLV-1 seroconverted. The total figures for hepatitis B markers were 79.2% among IVDAs, 24.4% among household contacts, and 25.6% among laboratory workers. A significant correlation was found between presence of HBV markers and seropositivity for HIV and HTLV-1. A significant association with HIV-1 seropositivity was found for history of sexual intercourse with HIV-1 seropositive partners and for sexual promiscuity. These data emphasize the important role played by sexual behavior in addition to needle-sharing in the spreading of multiple infections among drug abusers.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Virology, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Titti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rezza
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Verani
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Buttò
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sernicola
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rapicetta
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sarrecchia
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Oliva
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Rossi
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D015483:HIV Antibodies; D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies