Browse by author
Lookup NU author(s): Dr Matthias Schmid
Full text for this publication is not currently held within this repository. Alternative links are provided below where available.
This study aimed to investigate possible means by which hepatitis C virus (HCV) might be transmitted between drug injecting individuals without the sharing of needles and syringes. A questionnaire-based survey of 143 (out of 287) attendees was conducted at an Infectious Diseases Unit-based HCV clinic. Those patients (all of whom were positive for antibodies to HCV) who asked about risk activities and those that admitted to a history of recreational drug injecting were questioned in detail about their past and current drug preparation practices. Ten per cent denied any history of needle and/or syringe sharing and had no other apparent source of their HCV infection, but instead admitted to having shared drug preparation eqiupment. The existence among drug injectors of such practices with the potential to transmit blood borne viruses is important as it may explain how HCV, which is capable of being spread via very small quantities of blood, can be passed between drug injecting individuals who might otherwise never come into contact with another drug injector's blood. Clinical and public health messages regarding the prevention of the spread of HCV may need to be revised and strengthened.
Author(s): Schmid ML; Green ST; Mohsen AH; McKendrick MW; Dawes Y; Prakasam SF; Walberg R
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Communicable Disease and Public Health
Year: 2001
Volume: 4
Issue: 1
Pages: 38-41
ISSN (print): 1462-1843
Publisher: Health Protection Agency
PubMed id: 11467017
