title: Prevalence of Hepatitis B virus and/or Hepatitis C virus co-infections in prisoners infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus.
abstract: Correctional facilities host a disproportionately high prevalence of HBV, HCV and HIV infection. We evaluated the prevalence of HBV and/or HCV co-infection among HIV-infected inmates entering our correctional facility. Over a 30-month period, 173 consecutive HIV-infected inmates entered our institution and were evaluated. HCV co-infection was observed in more than 90% of the tested HIV-infected inmates, past HBV infection in 77.4% and active HBV co-infection in 6.7%; triple coinfection (HIV, HCV and HBs-Ag positivity) was seen in 6.1% of them. Given the observed high prevalence of co-infection, testing for HBV and HCV in all HIV-infected inmates at entry in any correctional system is recommended to identify those in need of specific care and/or preventing interventions.
authors.affiliation: Prison of Genoa, Genoa, Italy. pontals@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pontali
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ferrari
mesh_terms: D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D015995:Prevalence; D011329:Prisoners / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology