Eliminating hepatitis C virus as a public health threat among HIV-positive men who have sex with men: a multi-modelling approach to understand differences in sexual risk behaviour.

ABSTRACT: Outbreaks of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections among HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM) have been observed globally. Using a multi-modelling approach we estimate the time and number of direct-acting antiviral treatment courses required to achieve an 80% reduction in HCV prevalence among HIV-positive MSM in the state of Victoria, Australia. Three models of HCV transmission, testing and treatment among MSM were compared: a dynamic compartmental model; an agent-based model (ABM) parametrized to local surveillance and behavioural data ("ABM1"); and an ABM with a more heterogeneous population ("ABM2") to determine the influence of extreme variations in sexual risk behaviour. Among approximately 5000 diagnosed HIV-positive MSM in Victoria, 10% are co-infected with HCV. ABM1 estimated

SUBMITTER: Scott N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5810343 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature