title: Hepatitis C, hepatitis B, and human immunodeficiency virus infections among non-intravenous drug-using patients attending clinics for sexually transmitted diseases.
abstract: The seroprevalences of and risk factors for hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and syphilis were determined among 1257 consecutive non-intravenous drug-using patients attending Baltimore sexually transmitted diseases clinics: 122 (9.7%) had antibodies to HCV (anti-HCV), 192 (15.3%) had antibodies to HBV (anti-HBc), 44 (3.5%) had antibodies to HIV (anti-HIV), and 60 (4.8%) were seropositive for syphilis. For males, independent predictors of anti-HCV were age > 29 years and lack of condom use in the month before their visit. Males with any one serologic marker (anti-HCV, anti-HBc, anti-HIV, or syphilis) were more likely to have each of the other markers. For females, anti-HCV was independently associated with age > 29 years and > 1 male sex partner in the prior month. Females with anti-HIV or anti-HBc were more likely to have anti-HCV. These observations among non-intravenous drug-using patients suggest that sexual transmission of HCV may occur.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: R O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Cannon
authors.forename: C N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Shapiro
authors.forename: E W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Hook
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Alter
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Quinn
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D015142:Baltimore / Q000453:epidemiology; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D013587:Syphilis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology