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Hepatitis A virus and injecting drug misuse in Aberdeen, Scotland: a case–control study
Author(s) -
Roy K.,
Howie H.,
Sweeney C.,
Parry J.,
Molyneaux P.,
Goldberg D.,
Taylor A.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of viral hepatitis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.329
H-Index - 100
eISSN - 1365-2893
pISSN - 1352-0504
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2893.2004.00503.x
Subject(s) - medicine , hygiene , hepatitis a , transmission (telecommunications) , environmental health , context (archaeology) , odds ratio , outbreak , infection control , epidemiology , toilet , attack rate , needle sharing , hepatitis , virology , surgery , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , condom , paleontology , syphilis , biology , engineering , pathology , electrical engineering
Summary. To describe an epidemiological investigation of an outbreak of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection among injecting drug users in Aberdeen, Scotland. A case–control study to determine whether transmission was facilitated by poor personal hygiene or through sharing injecting equipment. Cases were more likely to report not washing their hands after using the toilet [odds ratio (OR) = 12.9, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.58–105.89] or before preparing food (OR = 4.0, 95% CI = 1.01–15.8), and less likely to have washed their hands prior to preparing drugs (OR = 10.67, 95% CI = 2.14–53.07). Cases were also more likely to report recipient sharing of needles/syringes (OR = 8.27, 95% CI = 1.68–40.57), and to have had injecting contact with someone who was jaundiced (OR = 29.4, 95% CI = 3.18–271.44). The results indicate that the lack of hygiene within the context of individuals gathering to prepare and inject drugs provides ample opportunity for the transmission of HAV. Although the promotion of good hygiene and the avoidance of sharing injecting equipment are important measures in preventing HAV transmission, they are unlikely to effect major behavioural change. Such measures should, therefore, be reinforced by routinely offering HAV vaccine to injectors.