Syphilis among intravenous drug-using population: epidemiological situation in St Petersburg, Russia.
BACKGROUND
An epidemic of syphilis and other sexually transmitted infections (STI) in the Russian Federation is believed to be related to the rise in injection drug use. A study was carried out in collaboration with a non-governmental organization, Foundation 'Vozvrastcheniye'.


METHODS
Nine hundred and ten injection drug users participating in the programme were tested for syphilis, HIV, hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV); 65 participants who had laboratory markers for syphilis and 45 syphilis-negative serosurvey subjects agreed to participate in a questionnaire study.


RESULTS
Syphilis, HIV, HBV and HCV were diagnosed in 12%, 0%, 48% and 79% of drug users, respectively. Prevalence of syphilis seromarkers was nine times higher in females than in males, and strongly associated with sex work.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of the study indicate that resources to treat and prevent further infections including HIV should be prioritized toward risk reduction in drug injectors and sex workers in St Petersburg.
Karapetyan
Arman F
AF
Pavlov State Medical University of St Petersburg, Russia.
Sokolovsky
Yevgeny V
YV
Araviyskaya
Elena R
ER
Zvartau
Edwin E
EE
Ostrovsky
Dmitri V
DV
Hagan
Holly
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012426:Russia / Q000453:epidemiology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D011477:Sex Work; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013587:Syphilis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*