Abstract Book Vol. 2 [International Conference on AIDS (14th: 2002: Barcelona, Spain)]

XIV International AIDS Conference

Abstracts ThPeC7497-ThPeC7501 461

Presenting author: mark sulkowski, johns hopkins school of medicine, 1830
monument street, ste. 319, baltimore, md 21287-003, United States, Tel.:
[phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]
ThPeC7497 Getting the point: Knowledge of HIV and hepatitis
C among active drug injectors
J.R. Porter', G. Perez2. I Bryn Mawr College, dept. of sociology, bryn mawr
college, 101 north merion ave., bryn mawr, pa. 19010, United States;
2Methadone in Recovery, Philadelphia, Pa. 19146, United States
Background: HIV information has been widely disseminated to the IDU (injection
drug user) population, but HCV (hepatitis C) has recently become a focus of prevention campaigns. We investigate knowledge of HIV and HCV among a sample
of IDU's.
Methods: Qualitative interviews were administered to a sample of 60 active IDU's
in Philadelphia, Pa, recruited by outreach workers for a larger study of AIDS risk
behavior. 40% were regular users of NEP's (needle exchange programs) and 2/3
were not currently receiving drug treatment.
Results: Most spontaneously mentioned HIV as a major health risk for IDU's,
had been HIV tested, and knew people who were HIV infected. All knew the basic causes of HIV. Yet only a minority spontaneously mentioned HCV as a major
health risk for IDU's, and comments indicated that there was confusion about
the difference between HCV and other types of hepatitis, and about the causes,
symptoms and treatment of HCV. Most had not been been tested for HCV or
did not know. Those currently in drug treatment had higher levels of knowledge.
NEP's were an important source of information for those not in treatment. Respondents who did not utilize either drug treatment or NEP's were least knowledgeable.
Conclusions: Knowledge of HCV is much lower than knowledge of HIV among
this sample of IDU's. Drug treatment programs and NEP's need to stress HCV information and testing, and outreach strategies should be developed for injectors
who use neither.
Presenting author: judith porter, dept. of sociology, bryn mawr college, 101 north
merion ave., bryn mawr, pa. 19010, United States, Tel.: [phone], Fax: +610
896 7032, E-mail: [email protected]
ThPeC7498 Predictors of HCV in Semen of Homeless Men
A.M.N. Nyamathi. University of California, Los Angeles, University of California,
Los Angeles, School of Nursing, Room 2-250, Factor Building, Los Angeles, CA
90095-1702, United States
Background: While HIV/AIDS and HCV have similar parenteral transmission
routes, sexual transmission for HCV remains controversial. To determine whether
there is a biological basis for sexual transmission of HCV, we assessed the relationship between HCV-RNA in semen and serum of HCV-infected homeless
men by means of Branched DNA (bDNA) and transcription mediated amplification analysis (TMA). We also assessed the association of selected demographic
and behavioral risk factors of HCV-infected participants found to have HCV in semen compared to HCV infected participants who did not present with HCV in the
semen.
Methods: Semen and serum samples were collected from February to June of
2001 on 79 HCV-antibody positive homeless men in the Skid Row area of Los
Angeles. A structured questionnaire was used to solicit information about sociodemographic variables, including age, sex, race, education, veteran status,
relationship status, country of birth, history of incarceration, health status, history
of homelessness, drug treatment history, and length of time in the U.S. Biological variables, were assessed by HCV RNA assays in blood plasma and semen.
Behavioral variables, including drug and alcohol use in the last six months and
lifetime, were measured by the TCU Drug History form and the CAGE questionnaire. Sexual behavior was assessed by a Sexual Activity Questionnaire.
Results: Findings revealed that 37% of homeless men had HCV RNA detected
in their semen. Those who completed a HBV vaccination series, and reported
lifetime use of methamphetamine, barbiturates, cocaine, and methadone, and a
higher HCV antibody viral load were more likely to have HCV detected in their
semen than their counterparts.
Conclusions: Findings of the study suggest a biological basis exists for sexual
transmission of HCV and that associated risk factors exist. Policy recommendations for HCV prevention are discussed.
Presenting author: Adeline Nyamathi, University of California, Los Angeles,
School of Nursing, Room 2-250, Factor Building, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1702,
United States, Tel.: +[phone], Fax: +[phone], E-mail: anyamath
@sonnet.ucla.edu
ThPeC7499 HCV and HIV infections among young street IDUs
I Roy', N. Haley2, P Leclerc3, L. Cedras3, J.F Boivin4. iMontreal Regional

Public Health, McGill University, Montreal Regional Public Health, 1301
Sherbrooke street east, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; 2Sainte-Justine Hospital,
Montreal Regional Public Health, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; 3Montreal
Regional Public Health, Montreal, Canada; 4 McGill University, Montreal Regional
Public Health, Montreal, Canada
Background: The Montreal Street Youth Cohort was initiated in 01/1995. In

12/1999, a component on prevalence and risk factors of hepatitis C virus (HCV)
infection was added.
Methods: Participants, aged 14-25 years at entry, were met every 6 months
to complete a questionnaire and provide saliva for HIV antibody testing. Since
12/1999, participants also completed HCV-specific questions and provided blood
for HCV antibody testing. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify
lifetime factors associated with HCV infection among youth having injected drugs
in the last 6 months (active IDUs).
Results: As of 09/2000, 489 youth had participated in the HCV component; 131
(26.8%) were active IDUs. Among them, HCV prevalence was 52.7% (69/131);
HIV prevalence was 14 times lower (3.8%; 5/131). All 5 HIV+ youth were HCV
co-infected. Variables associated with HCV in univariate analyses (p<0.1) and
entered in the multivariate analyses were sex (boys: 60.3%, girls: 41.5%), cocaine injection (54.9 vs 22.2%), injection with a used needle (57.8 vs 27.3%)
or other used injection materials (55.1 vs 30.8%), duration of injection (>4 yrs:
65.2%, <4 yrs: 40.0%), number of injections (>100: 58.0%, 1-100: 21.1%), sniffing drug with a used straw (49.6 vs 72.2%) and survival sex (60.2 vs 37.2%).
In multivariate analyses, males (adjusted odds ratio=2.9; 95% Cl: 1.3-6.5), >100
injections (AOR=4.2; 1.2-14.6), injection >4 yrs (AOR=2.5; 1.1-5.4) and survival
sex (AOR=3.6; 1.5-8.6) were associated (p<0.05) with HCV infection. If duration of injection and number of injections were not entered in the model, males
(AOR=2.8; 1.3-6.1), injection with a used needle (AOR=3.2; 1.1-9.3) and survival
sex (AOR=2.9; 1.3-6.7) were retained.
Conclusion: In young street IDUs, HCV prevalence far exceeds HIV prevalence;
for them, injection with used needles and survival sex are the two behavioural
correlates of HCV infection. Among HIV-infected young IDUs, HCV co-infection
appears to be the rule.
Presenting author: Elise Roy, Montreal Regional Public Health, 1301 Sherbrooke street east, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Tel.: [phone], ext. 3604,
Fax: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]
ThPeC7500 On the likelihood of preventing HCV infection in
harm-reduction programs for IDUs
H. Haqan1, H. Thiede2, T Yu2, E. Hough2. 1NDRI, Inc., New York, NY United
States; 2Public Health-Seattle King County, Seattle, United States
Background: HIV prevention programs for injection drug users (IDUs) are expanding their goals to include prevention of hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV &
HCV). However, studies suggest that HCV may be easier to acquire than HIV and
that the opportunity to prevent HCV is brief, with 60-75% HCV-positive within 1-2
years after onset of injection.
Methods: In a dynamic cohort of 3500 IDUs, 418 HCV-negative subjects were followed an average of 1.2 years (range 0.6-3.6), with study visits every 6 months.
Date of HCV-seroconversion was estimated as midway between the first seropositive and last seronegative test, and time to seroconversion was calculated using
survival analysis methods. HCV-prevalence data were used to evaluate whether
left-censoring of subjects HCV-negative at time of enrollment and exclusion of
subjects who had already acquired HCV from the cohort biased the results toward longer survival time.
Results: Cumulative HCV incidence was 14% (10/100 person-years of follow-up).
Median age at enrollment was 26.1 years; median age at first injection was 19;
and median interval since first injection was 7 years. In IDUs injecting fewer than
2 years at enrollment, median time to seroconversion was 3.5 years. At enrollment into the dynamic cohort, HCV-prevalence among IDUs injecting < 2 years
was 41%.
Conclusions: These data indicate that the period between onset of injection and
HCV seroconversion may be longer than first suggested, and that HIV prevention
programs for drug injectors should consider HCV prevention a challenging but
achievable goal.
Presenting author: Holly Hagan, 71 West 23rd, 8th Floor, New York, NY, 10010,
United States, Tel.: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]
ThPeC7501 Heptits C Virus (HCV) infection among HIV
patients: Study testing anti bodies, RNA &
genotypes of HCV
W. Al Kubaisy. Hay Babil Mahalla 929 Zukak 7 No 46, Baghdad, Iraq
Objective: To determine the prevalence of HCV markers (antibodies, RNA, and
Genotypes) among hemophilic patients with HIV infection.
Design: Cross-sectional study.
Material & Method: Serum samples of 61HIV positive patients were subjected
to screening test flowed by confirmatory test for the presence of specific HCV antibodies (anti - HCV) using third generation; enzyme immunoassay (EIA- 3) and
immuno blot assay (Lia-Tek-0) subsequently. In addition sera of 20 of HCV positive / HIV positive were transferred to Laboratories of SorineBiomedica - Italy, for
molecular analysis using RT-PCR &DNA enzyme immuno assay (DEIA) method
for the detection of RNA& genotypes of HCV.

Result: The prevalence of HCV antibody was 49/61 (80%) and 14 of 20 (70%)
patients of HIV positive / HCV positive were HCV - RNA positive. The mean age
of HIV positive / HCV positive was 24.5 ~3.1. Four HCV genotypes were detected. The majority of patients (57%) 8 were harboring HCV - lb followed by
HCV - 4 (28.5%). Two cases were infected by HCV -1 a. Only one case was found
harboring dual genotypes of HCV infection (3a&4)