The HBV/HDV screening and linkage to care in drug users: A therapeutic diagnostic pathway (PDTA)

Abstract

The infectious diseases are an important comorbidity in drugs users and a health warming.Today only a few percentages of drug users are subjected to screening for hepatitis and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).In the recent years an effort has been made in drug users for the elimination of hepatitis C virus (HCV).Unfortunately, several barriers are now limiting the achievement of the goal of HCV elimination, as suggested by WHO.Drug users are people highly at risk to contract HBV and HDV infections. Only a few percentages of drug users receive HBV/HDV treatments, although they are effective and safe. The lack of treatment for drug users may be due to several factors. The main is that only a few percentages of drug users are tested for HBV and linked to treatment.The principal aim of this work is to defi ne a therapeutic diagnostic pathway (Percorso Diagnostico Terapeutico Assistenziale – PDTA) able to favorite HBV/HDV screening and linkage to care in drug users.