Bleach use and HIV seroconversion among New York City injection drug users.
We employed a nested case-control study design to evaluate the efficacy of bleach-cleaning of needles and syringes among injecting drug users (IDUs) as a means of preventing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Sixteen HIV-seroconverters who responded to bleach use questions and who reported injecting with shared or used equipment in the 6 months prior to their first positive visit were compared with 89 controls. Controls had remained HIV-seronegative at two or more visits, reported injecting with shared or used equipment, responded to bleach-cleaning questions, and were seen at recall visits +/- 6 months from the date of seroconversion of the index case. Risk factors associated with HIV seroconversion in univariate analyses were a history of sexual intercourse with an HIV-infected partner and the frequency of speedball (mixed heroin and cocaine) injections. After adjusting for confounders, we found no evidence that bleach use protected against HIV infection.
Titus
S
S
Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, NY 10010-2598.
Marmor
M
M
Des Jarlais
D
D
Kim
M
M
Wolfe
H
H
Beatrice
S
S
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003042:Cocaine; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004203:Disinfection; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003932:Heroin; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009339:Needles; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications*; D013594:Syringes
D003932:Heroin; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite; D003042:Cocaine