title: Factors associated with recently acquired hepatitis C virus infection in people who inject drugs in England, Wales and Northern Ireland: new findings from an unlinked anonymous monitoring survey.
abstract: Monitoring infections and risk in people who inject drugs (PWID) is important for informing public health responses. In 2011, a novel hepatitis C antibody (anti-HCV) avidity-testing algorithm to identify samples compatible with recent primary infection was introduced into a national surveillance survey. PWID are recruited annually, through >60 needle-and-syringe programmes and prescribing services. Of the 980 individuals that could have been at risk of HCV infection, there were 20 (2%) samples that were compatible with recent primary infection. These were more common among: those imprisoned ⩾5 times [8/213; adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 8·7, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2·04-37·03]; women (8/230; aOR 3·8, 95% CI 1·41-10·38); and those ever-infected with hepatitis B (5/56; aOR 6·25, 95% CI 2·12-18·43). This study is the first to apply this algorithm and to examine the risk factors associated with recently acquired HCV infection in a national sample of PWID in the UK. These findings highlight underlying risks and suggest targeted interventions are needed.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance and Control, Public Health England,London,UK.
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Cullen
authors.affiliation: Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance and Control, Public Health England,London,UK.
authors.forename: V D
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Hope
authors.affiliation: Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance and Control, Public Health England,London,UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Croxford
authors.affiliation: Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance and Control, Public Health England,London,UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shute
authors.affiliation: Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance and Control, Public Health England,London,UK.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ncube
authors.affiliation: Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance and Control, Public Health England,London,UK.
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Parry
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000502:physiology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009660:Northern Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014852:Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies
keywords: people who inject drugs (PWID)