Via practica 6/2012

Hepatitis C in the community of drug users in Slovakia

In industrialised countries, injecting drug use is currently the most important risk factor for infection with hepatitis C, resulting in high prevalence of hepatitis C among injecting drug users (IDUs) in Slovakia in the range od 25 – 40 %. The aim of the study was to assess the seroprevalence of HCV infection and distribution of genotypes among IDUs in the years 2004 – 2009. Patients and methods: A total number of 962 probands, both sexes (682 males and 280 females) with mean age 27 years were investigated in the years 2004 – 2009. Standard virological tests were performed. Results: The seroprevalence of anti-HCV positivity during the years 2004 – 2009 were in range 34% – 78% and positivity of HCV RNA assessed by PCR method were in range 17 –71%. The genotypes distribution was in slight favour of genotype 3. Conclusion: The results of epidemiological studies confirm persistence of high positivity of anti-HCV and HCV RNA by PCR method in the risk group of IDUs.

Keywords: hepatitis C, intravenous drug users, prevalence.