Presence of hepatitis C virus in syringes confiscated in prisons in Australia.
OBJECTIVE
Needlestick injuries are an occupational hazard for prison officers. This study aimed to assess the presence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in syringes found in prisons.


METHODS
Sixty-nine syringes found in prisons were tested for HCV RNA using previously published methods.


RESULTS
Three syringes tested positive for HCV RNA.


CONCLUSIONS
Compared to the prevalence of HCV among injecting drug users in prisons, few syringes were found to contain HCV RNA. It is likely that conditions under which syringes are kept in prisons are not favorable for survival of detectable HCV RNA. Further work is needed to establish the risk of HCV transmission posed by needlestick injuries in prison settings.
National Drug and Alcohol Research Center, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
Kate
K
Dolan
Sarah
S
Larney
Brendan
B
Jacka
William
W
Rawlinson
D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D016602:Needlestick Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011330:Prisons; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013594:Syringes / Q000821:virology*; D000078329:Workforce
D012367:RNA, Viral