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Screening for hepatitis B and vaccination of injecting drug users in NHS drug treatment services
Author(s) -
FARRELL MICHAEL,
BATTERSBY MALCOLM,
STRANG JOHN
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
british journal of addiction
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.424
H-Index - 193
eISSN - 1360-0443
pISSN - 0952-0481
DOI - 10.1111/j.1360-0443.1990.tb01656.x
Subject(s) - medicine , vaccination , hepatitis b , drug , family medicine , hepatitis , hepatitis a vaccine , hepatitis c , hepatitis a , environmental health , immunology , psychiatry
Abstract Hepatitis B vaccines are now available for people at high risk of infection. Injecting drug users are at particular risk. A UK national survey of statutory drug treatment facilities was conducted to assess what screening and vaccination procedures were offered to drug taken. Of the respondents 64% did not screen for hepatitis B and 71% did not offer vaccination to hepatitis B negative individuals. However, 63% of respondents said they would advise vaccination for injecting drug users who continued to share. Fifty‐eight per cent thought that the partners of hepatitis B positive clients should be screened and 50% thought that vaccination of partners was advisable. A policy of screening and vaccination for hepatitis B is recommended.