title: Hepatitis A and B among young persons who inject drugs--vaccination, past, and present infection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Our study aims were to assess hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) susceptibility and infection among young persons who inject drugs (PWID) who may have been vaccinated as children and to evaluate self-report of HAV and HBV vaccination.
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited PWID aged 18-40 years-old in San Diego during 2009 and 2010 and collected demographic, socioeconomic, health, and behavioral factors. Participants were asked if they had been vaccinated against HAV and HBV, and serum samples were collected for HAV and HBV serologic testing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 519 participants, 365 (72%) were male, 252 (49%) were white non-Hispanic, 38 (7%) were Black non-Hispanic, 138 (27%) were White Hispanic, and 22 (4%) were born outside the U. S. Of the total participants, 245 (47%) had surface hepatitis B antibody (anti-HBs) titers <10mIU/ml (i.e., HBV susceptible) and 325 (63%) had no detectable HAV antibodies (HAV susceptible). Hepatitis B surface antigen was detected in 7 (1%) of total participants; and 135 (26%) were anti-HCV-antibody positive. Compared to serologic findings, self-report of HBV and HAV vaccination was 71% and 41% sensitive, and 58% and 73% specific, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HAV and HBV antibodies in half or more of this young PWID population did not have levels indicative of protection, and about a quarter had HCV infection, putting them at risk for complications resulting from co-infection with HAV or HBV. Programs serving this population should vaccinate PWIDs against HAV and HBV and not rely on self-report of vaccination.
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for HIV, Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Division of Viral Hepatitis, Atlanta, GA, United States. Electronic address: mgcollier@cdc.gov.
authors.forename: Melissa G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Collier
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for HIV, Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Division of Viral Hepatitis, Atlanta, GA, United States.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Drobeniuc
authors.affiliation: Division of Global Public Health, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, CA, United States.
authors.forename: Jazmine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cuevas-Mota
authors.affiliation: Division of Global Public Health, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, CA, United States.
authors.forename: Richard S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Garfein
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for HIV, Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Division of Viral Hepatitis, Atlanta, GA, United States.
authors.forename: Saleem
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kamili
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for HIV, Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Division of Viral Hepatitis, Atlanta, GA, United States.
authors.forename: Eyasu H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Teshale
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D057566:Self Report; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D014481:United States; D014611:Vaccination; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies
keywords: Hepatitis C virus; Persons who inject drugs; Self-report