title: Prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in different population groups in southern Italy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A cross-sectional investigation was carried out between 2000 and 2002 to assess the prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) in Naples, southern Italy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five groups of individuals were investigated, two at low risk and three at high risk for HCV infection. Blood sample sera were collected among 5,391 individuals (4,059 men and 1,332 women): 1,972 general practitioner (GP) patients and 781 employees of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) of Naples (low-risk groups); 524 male prisoners, 1,436 intravenous drug users (IDUs) and 678 hemodialysis patients (high-risk groups).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall HCV seropositivity rates ranged from 6.4% among employees of the NCI to 37.4% among male prisoners. HCV infection tended to generally increase with age, but in IDUs and in male prisoners the upward trend leveled off at 50 years of age. As compared to GP patients, IDUs (both sexes) and male prisoners had a nearly 6-fold increased risk of HCV infection, while HCV was nearly 3-fold more common among hemodialysis patients. Employees of NCI were at reduced risk of HCV infection, particularly women (odds ratio = 0.3).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study findings confirmed the high risk for HCV infection in IDUs and identified other population groups in southern Italy that should be offered HCV screening and counselling given the severe implications of HCV infection on health.
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology Unit, National Cancer Institute, G. Pascale Foundation, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montella
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Crispo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grimaldi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Angeletti
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amore
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ronga
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sabbatini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sabbatici
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pisani
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Spiteri
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Serraino
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011329:Prisoners; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous