Sharing of drug preparation equipment as a risk factor for hepatitis C

Am J Public Health. 2001 Jan;91(1):42-6. doi: 10.2105/ajph.91.1.42.

Abstract

Objectives: This study investigated the sharing of drug preparation equipment as a possible route of hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission.

Methods: HCV seroconversion was measured in a cohort of 317 injection drug users who tested negative for HCV antibody at recruitment.

Results: Cumulative HCV incidence was 16.7% per year. Among those who did not share syringes, HCV seroconversion was associated with sharing drug cookers and filtration cotton (adjusted risk ratio = 5.9; 95% confidence interval = 1.1, 31.7); 54% of HCV infections in injection drug users who did not share syringes were attributable to cooker/cotton sharing.

Conclusions: Among injection drug users who do not share syringes, an important proportion of HCV infections may be attributed to cooker/cotton sharing.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Equipment Contamination*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Hepatitis C / epidemiology
  • Hepatitis C / prevention & control
  • Hepatitis C / transmission*
  • Humans
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Odds Ratio
  • Risk Factors
  • Substance Abuse, Intravenous / virology*
  • Washington / epidemiology