Document 0682
 DOCN  M94A0682
 TI    Incidence of HBV and HCV in prison entrants in Victoria, 1991-92:
       evidence of a core risk group for HIV transmission.
 DT    9412
 AU    Crofts N; Stewart T; Hearne P; Breschkin A; Locarnini S; Macfarlane
       Burnet Centre, Fairfield, Vic.
 SO    Annu Conf Australas Soc HIV Med. 1993 Oct 28-30;5:41 (abstract no. TE7).
       Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE ASHM5/94348973
 AB    AIM: To measure incidence of blood-borne viruses among prison entrants,
       to assess risk in these populations for HIV transmission. METHODS: All
       entrants to Pentridge Prison between Oct91 and Oct92 were tested with
       consent for HIV/HBV/HCV; incidence rates were calculated for those
       tested more than once in the period. Limited demographic and risk
       behaviour data were collected. RESULTS: 350 people were tested more than
       once in the study period. The seroconversion rate for HBV was 12.5%
       p.a., and for HCV was 18.3% p.a. Seroconverters (sc's) for both viruses
       were all males aged less than 30 years (mean 22.5 years, sd 3.5) who
       gave a history of injecting drug use IDU); among this group,
       seroconversion rates were 26% and 41% p.a. respectively. 90% of the HBV
       sc's were anti-HCV positive, and 80% of the HCV sc's were anti-HBV core
       negative at first bleed. None of the seroconverters was HIV positive,
       and none of the 0.5% of entrants who were anti-HIV positive was retested
       in the study period; they were all male, but older (mean 31.2 years, sd
       4.3) and less likely to have a history of IDU. CONCLUSIONS: Blood-borne
       viruses are spreading freely in this population, especially among male
       IDUs aged less than 30, who make up 30% of all prison entrants in
       Victoria. Given previous findings that HBV is a good surrogate marker
       for HIV risk in IDU populations, it is possible that we have identified
       a core group at high risk for HIV if it were to enter this population.
 DE    Adult  Cross-Sectional Studies  Hepatitis B/*EPIDEMIOLOGY/TRANSMISSION
       Hepatitis C/*EPIDEMIOLOGY/TRANSMISSION  Human  HIV
       Infections/EPIDEMIOLOGY/*TRANSMISSION  Incidence  Male
       Prisoners/*STATISTICS & NUMER DATA  Risk Factors  Substance Abuse,
       Intravenous/COMPLICATIONS/EPIDEMIOLOGY  Victoria/EPIDEMIOLOGY  MEETING
       ABSTRACT

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).