Parallel declines in HIV and hepatitis C virus prevalence, but not in herpes simplex virus type 2 infection: A 10-year, serial cross-sectional study in an inner-city emergency department.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The Johns Hopkins Hospital Emergency Department (JHHED) has served as an observational window on the HIV epidemic in a socioeconomically depressed, urban population. We previously reported that HIV incidence among JHHED patients is decreasing and that prevalence has declined from 11.4% in 2003-5.6% in 2013.

Objectives

This study sought to observe temporal trends in hepatitis C virus (HCV) and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) seroprevalence, which are surrogate markers for parenteral and sexual risk behavior, respectively.

Study design

Identity unlinked-serosurveys were conducted over 6-8 weeks in the adult JHHED in 2003, 2007, and 2013. Excess sera from 10,274 patients, previously tested for HIV, were assayed for HSV-2 and HCV antibodies.

Results

SUBMITTER: Patel EU 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4902752 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature