Progress Towards Elimination of Hepatitis C Infection Among People Who Inject Drugs in Australia: The ETHOS Engage Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Evaluating progress towards hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination is critical. This study estimated prevalence of current HCV infection and HCV treatment uptake among people who inject drugs (PWID) in Australia.

Methods

The Enhancing Treatment of Hepatitis C in Opioid Substitution Settings Engage is an observational study of PWID attending drug treatment clinics and needle and syringe programs (NSPs). Participants completed a questionnaire including self-reported treatment history and underwent point-of-care HCV RNA testing (Xpert HCV Viral Load Fingerstick; Cepheid).

Results

Between May 2018 and September 2019, 1443 participants were enrolled (64% injected drugs in the last month, 74% receiving opioid agonist therapy [OAT]). HCV infection status was uninfect

SUBMITTER: Valerio H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8246809 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature