title: Management of HCV and HIV infections among people who inject drugs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Despite a high burden of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV infection among IDUs and the advent of effective therapies, assessment and treatment remain limited. The current review focuses on the management of HCV and HIV among IDUs, focusing particularly on recent strategies to enhance assessment, uptake and response to HCV and HIV treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There are compelling data demonstrating that with the appropriate programs, treatment for HIV and HCV among IDUs is successful. However, assessment and treatment for HCV and HIV lags far behind the numbers of IDUs who could benefit from therapy, related to systems, provider and patient-related barriers to care. Strategies for enhancing assessment and treatment for HCV and HIV have been developed, including novel models integrating HCV/HIV care within existing community-based and drug and alcohol clinics, innovative methods for education delivery (including peer-support models) and directly observed therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As we move forward, research must move beyond demonstrating that HCV and HIV infections can be successfully treated among IDUs. There is clear evidence that this is both feasible and effective. Novel strategies to enhance assessment, uptake and response to treatment should be evaluated among IDUs to elucidate mechanisms to enhance care for this underserved population.
authors: The Kirby Institute for Infection and Immunity in Society, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. jgrebely@kirby.unsw.edu.au
authors: Jason
authors: J
authors: Grebely
authors: Mark W
authors: MW
authors: Tyndall
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D060085:Coinfection; D019468:Disease Management; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents