title: Prevalence of hepatitis A among drug users in north-eastern Italy. Is vaccination necessary in low prevalence areas?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The authors report on the prevalence of, and risk factors for, hepatitis A virus (HAV) in a group of drug users in Italy.
  
  
  METHODS
  404 heroin users were recruited and compared with a control group of 107 subjects in the general population.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Drug users born in north-eastern Italy have a prevalence of anti-HAV similar to the control group. A much higher prevalence was found in drug users born in southern Italy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The similar prevalence of anti-HAV in drug users born in north-eastern Italy and in the general population, suggests that their lifestyle does not involve a substantial additional risk of HAV. The much higher prevalence found in drug users born in southern Italy is more likely to be related to infection during infancy.
authors.affiliation: Medical Service for Addictive Disorders, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Verona, Italy. paolo.mezzelani@univr.it
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lugoboni
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Quaglio
authors.forename: Benedetta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pajusco
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Foroni
authors.forename: Gianstefano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Blengio
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Talamini
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mezzelani
authors.forename: Don C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Des Jarlais
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D006556:Heroin Dependence; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014611:Vaccination