Univerzitetni klinični center Maribor (SBMB)
  • Prevalence of hepatitis B and C virus infections among Slovenian intravenous drug users on methadone maintenance treatment
    Baklan, Zvonko ...
    Background: Intravenous drug users (IDUs) are at high risk with several blood-borne pathogens, including hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV). The aim of our study was to determine the ... prevalence of HBV and HCV infections among IDUs in Slovenia. Methods: 120 serum from the same number of IDUs on methadone maintenance treatment from different Slovenia regions were collected in the year 2000. Three markers of HBV infection, HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBc as well as anti-HCV antibodies, were determined in all serum samples. Additionally, all anti-HCV positive samples were tested for the presence of HCV RNA. Results: The prevalence of HBV infection (measured as anti-HBc positivity) among Slovenian IDUs was 11.7 %. Only 1.7 % of IDUs had serological markers of active HBV infection. Serological marker of successful vaccination against HBV was detected in 11.7 % of IDUs. The prevalence of anti-HCV among IDUs was 27.5 %. Out of 33 anti-HCV positive IDUs, 28 (84.8 %) were also HCV RNA positive indicating active HCV infection. The predominant HCV genotype was genotype 1, found in 67.8 % of HCV RNA positive IDUs. Conclusions: The prevalence of both HBV and HCV infections in Slovenian IDUs is among the lowest found to date. In 2000, 76.7 % of Slovenian IDUs were still susceptible to HBV infection. Therefore, a more intense action concerning vaccination against HBV is needed.
    Vir: Viral hepatitis : proceedings (Str. 127-130)
    Vrsta gradiva - prispevek na konferenci ; neleposlovje za odrasle
    Leto - 2004
    Jezik - angleški
    COBISS.SI-ID - 1767231

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