title: The prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and hepatitis C virus among injection drug users who use high risk inner-city locales in Miami, Florida.
abstract: In order to estimate the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infection in hard-to-reach intravenous drug users, 199 subjects from high-risk inner-city locales, the so called "shooting galleries", were consented, interviewed, and tested in Miami, FL, US. Positive HIV-1 status was based on repeatedly reactive ELISA and confirmatory Western Blot. Positive HCV status was based on reactive ELISA and confirmatory polymerase chain reaction techniques. Overall, 50 (25%) were not infected with either virus, 61 (31%) were HIV-1/HCV co-infected, 17 (8%) infected by HIV-1 only, and 71 (36%) infected by HCV only. The results of the multivariable analyses showed that more years using heroin was the only significant risk factor for HCV only infection (odds ratio = 1.15; 95% confidence interval = 1.07, 1.24) and for HIV-1/HCV co-infection (odds ratio = 1.17; 95% confidence interval = 1.09, 1.26). This paper demonstrates that HIV-1/HCV co-infection is highly prevalent among so called "shooting galleries".
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami School of Medicine, Highland Professional Building, 801 NW 9th Avenue, Miami, FL 33136, USA. CMcCoy@med.miami.edu
authors.forename: Clyde B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: McCoy
authors.forename: Lisa R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Metsch
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Collado-Mesa
authors.forename: Kristopher L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Arheart
authors.forename: Sarah E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Messiah
authors.forename: Dolores
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shapshak
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015497:HIV-1; D016174:Hepacivirus; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology