title: Characterizing the Burden of Hepatitis C Infection Among Entrants to Pennsylvania State Prisons, 2004 to 2012.
abstract: Although hepatitis C (HCV) infection is common among prisoners, relatively few undergo evaluation for treatment. This study reports the prevalence of chronic infection and the genotype distribution among an incarcerated population. HCV antibody testing was provided to adults entering Pennsylvania prisons; confirmatory and genotype testing were offered to those eligible for treatment. Antibody prevalence among 101,727 individuals was 18.1%. Among 7,633 individuals who underwent confirmatory testing, 69.3% had detectable RNA. Among 3,247 individuals who underwent genotype testing, genotype 1 was the most common (76.6%). The rate of chronic infection after HCV exposure is similar to that reported in the community, as is genotype distribution. Correctional facilities provide access to a population with a high disease burden, creating a public health opportunity for evaluation and treatment.
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA mmahowal@med.umich.edu.
authors.forename: Madeline K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Mahowald
authors.affiliation: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Larney
authors.affiliation: Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
authors.forename: Nickolas D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Zaller
authors.affiliation: Bureau of Healthcare Services, Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, Mechanicsburg, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Scharff
authors.affiliation: The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and The Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI, USA.
authors.forename: Lynn E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and The Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI, USA.
authors.forename: Curt G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Beckwith
authors.affiliation: The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and Lifespan Hospitals, Providence, RI, USA.
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Noska
authors.affiliation: The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and The Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI, USA.
authors.forename: Josiah D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Rich
authors.affiliation: The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and The Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI, USA.
authors.forename: Timothy P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Flanigan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010414:Pennsylvania; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D011330:Prisons; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies
keywords: chronic hepatitis C infection; correctional health; hepatitis C genotype distribution; prevalence