RESUMEN
In order to investigate the prevalence of HIV infection among Greek intravenous drug users (IVDU), its trend during years recent and possible risk factors, we studied 893 inmates recently admitted to the main prisons of Greece from 1986 to 1989. Screening and counselling was offered to all of them. The acceptance rate was 98%. One thousand one hundred and two IVDUs voluntarily attending the AIDS Reference Centre in Athens for counselling and screening were also included in the study. Anti-HIV were determined by commercially available radioimmunoassays, and positive results were confirmed by Western Blot. Our results showed that the prevalence of HIV infection remained very low in both groups during the study period; it was similar to the prevalence found (2.1%) in stored sera drawn in 1982 from imprisoned IVDU. In the non-prisoner group, the prevalence among those who reported needle/syringe sharing (2.6%) was similar to that among those who denied sharing (2.5%). This lack of difference may be due to the fact that sharing is only an occasional practice and that cleaning of of the injection equipment is common. We conclude that the prevalence of anti-HIV in IVDU in Greece is considerably lower than that in neighbouring countries and that it has remained stable during the last eight years. Further studies are necessary to identify behavioral and other risk factors.
Asunto(s)
Infecciones por VIH/epidemiología , Abuso de Sustancias por Vía Intravenosa/complicaciones , Adolescente , Adulto , Femenino , Grecia/epidemiología , Anticuerpos Anti-VIH/análisis , Infecciones por VIH/complicaciones , Infecciones por VIH/inmunología , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Prevalencia , Prisiones , Abuso de Sustancias por Vía Intravenosa/inmunologíaRESUMEN
The prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in Cyprus was estimated in a sample of 795 blood donors, 388 armed forces recruits, 1872 hospital staff, 135 haemodialysis patients, 559 thalassaemic patients, 722 institutionalised adults, 98 mentally retarded children and 323 family contacts of HBsAg carriers. Commercially available radioimmunoassays were used for screening. Merck Sharpe and Dohme hepatitis B vaccine was used for a vaccination pilot program. Our results showed that the carrier rate of HBsAg in the blood donor and army recruit samples ranged between 0.77% and 1.01% and the prevalence of past infection between 11.1% and 13.6%. Among high risk groups the highest carrier rate was found in family contacts of HBsAg carriers (18.27%), in mentally retarded children (6.12%) and in institutionalized adult patients (5.40%). The frequency of immunes was found 28.5%, 12.2% and 33.2% respectively. The highest frequency of immunes was found in thalassaemic (82.9%) and haemodialysis (43.7%) patients. The carrier rate (2.94%) and the prevalence of immunes (22.5%) in hospital personnel was higher than in general population. Vaccination studies in a limited number of thalassaemic children and hospital personnel showed excellent acceptance of vaccination and excellent immunogenicity. We infer that HBV infection should be consider as a major public health problem in Cyprus. A National Vaccination program has to be implemented for containing its spread.