Hepatitis C Virus Prevalence Research Articles

Emergency department contribution to HCV elimination in the Iberian Peninsula

BackgroundUndiagnosed cases of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection result in significant morbidity and mortality, further transmission, and increased public health costs. Testing in emergency departments (EDs) is an opportunity to expand HCV screening. The goal of this project was to increase the proportion of eligible patients screened for HCV in urban areas.MethodsAn opportunistic automated HCV screening program was implemented in the EDs of 4 public hospitals in Spain and Portugal at different periods between 2018 and 2023. HCV prevalence was prospectively evaluated, and single-step or reflex testing was used for confirmation in the same sample.ResultsMore than 90% of the population eligible for testing were screened in the participating centers. We found HCV antibody seroprevalence rates ranging from 0.6 to 3.9%, with between 19 and 53% of viremic individuals.ConclusionsOpportunistic HCV screening in EDs is feasible, does not disrupt ED activities, is highly effective in increasing diagnosis, and contributes to WHO’s HCV elimination goals.

Serodiagnosis of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen and Anti Hepatitis C Virus among Hemodialysis Patients in Khartoum State- Sudan

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a hepatotropic virus that can establish a persistent and chronic infection in humans through immune energy. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a hepatotropic RNA virus that causes progressive liver damage. In hemodialysis (HD), blood is removed from the patient with needles and plastic tubing and pumped past the dialysis membrane. Poisons and toxins cross the dialysis membrane into the dialysate, which is then discarded, and the blood is returned to the patient. Objectives: The study aimed to detect HBsAg and anti-HCV in HD patients and the control group. Methods: A retrospective case-control, a hospital-based study was carried out on 110 participants 60 HD patients and 50 control, 60 males and 50 females, ages between 20 -39 years 27 participants and ages between 40-59 years 32 participants and ages more than 60 51 participants, ELISA method was used to detect HBsAg and anti-HCV in HD patients and control sera, the study was carried out during the period from August 2021 to January 2022. Results: In this study, the overall prevalence of HBV infection among HD patients and the control group was 26.3% (2/110), and among HD patients was 45 % (27/60), while it was 4% (2/50) among the control group any non – HD patient, co-patient, hospital staff and the overall prevalence of HCV was 1,8 % (2/110) and it was 3.3% (2/60) among the HD patients, 0% (0/50) among the control group. There was a significant association between HBV infection and HD (P value 0.019). Conclusions: The prevalence of HBV among HD patients was very high (45%). The results emphasize the need to carry out proactive tasks for early diagnosis by using highly sensitive and specific methods such as PCR technique, treatment of infected individuals, and vaccinating those with non-protective anti-HB antibodies to reduce morbidity and mortality in HD patients.

Seroprevalence of hepatitis B and C viruses and some possible associated factors among cancer patients at the Oncology Treatment Center, Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study.

Cancer patients are prone to infections such as hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV), which pose a major public health challenge, especially in developing countries. However, little is known about the magnitude of these infections among cancer patients in Ethiopia. Thus, this study determined the prevalence of HBV and HCV in cancer patients at the Oncology Treatment Center, Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia. An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 115 cancer patients from 15 April to 22 July 2023 at the Oncology Treatment Center, Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia. Sociodemographic, clinical, and other relevant data were collected using a pretested structured questionnaire. Five milliliters of venous blood were collected using a vacutainer tube, serum was harvested and tested for HBV and HCV using a one-step HBsAg and anti-HCV test strip with further confirmation through an ELISA test kit. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20 and Fisher exact test was used to determine the association between HBV/HCV infection and associated factors. Out of 115 cancer patients, the majority (62.6%) were females. The median age was 50 (IQR; 40-56) years. The overall prevalence of HBV and HCV infections was 4.3% (95% CI; 0.6-8%) and 6.1% (95% CI; 1.7-10.5%), respectively. Sex was significantly associated with the prevalence of HCV (p = 0.011) with higher anti-HCV positivity in males (14%) than in females (1.4%). In this study, the prevalence of HCV was higher and the HBV prevalence was intermediate in cancer patients. To reduce the burden of HBV and HCV infections, it is crucial to provide access to HBV and HCV screening services, strengthen vaccination, and improve prompt treatment in cancer patients.

Seroprevalence of viral hepatitis B and C infections among healthcare workers in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at higher risk of contracting hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. Currently, there is no estimate of pooled data on the prevalence of HBV and HCV infections among HCWs in the country. Thus, this review aimed to determine the pooled prevalence of hepatitis B and C infections among HCWs in Ethiopia. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using electronic databases, including PubMed, Cochrane Library, Science Direct, Hinari, and African Journals Online to identify pertinent articles from the inception to April 2024. The protocol has been registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO; CRD42024527940) and conducted per the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Data were extracted independently by two authors and analyzed using STATA version 11 software. A random-effect model and Egger's test were computed to estimate the pooled prevalence and assess publication bias, respectively. A total of 18 studies involving4,948 healthcare workers were included in this review to estimate the pooled prevalence of HBV and HCV infections among HCWs in Ethiopia. The overall prevalence of HBV was 5.93% (95% CI; 3.22-8.63). The sub-group analysis showed that the prevalence of HBV among medical waste handlers and health professionals was8.6% (95% CI; 3.01-14.13) and 4.98% (95% CI; 1.85-8.11), respectively. The combined prevalence of HCV was 1.12% (95% CI; -4.19-6.43). In the sub-group analysis, the prevalence of HCV among medical waste handlers and health professionals was1.44% (95% CI; -5.28-8.18) and 0.59% (95% CI; -8.09-9.27), respectively. In this review, we found a higher (5.93%) and moderate (1.12%) prevalence of HBV and HCV infections, respectively among Ethiopian HCWs. Therefore, to reduce the infectious burden of HBV and HCV among HCWs; there is a need to strict adherence to infection prevention and control measures. In addition, adequate HBV vaccination coverage for HCWs is mandatory to reduce the burden of HBV infection in the country.

Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C Infections among Female Inmates in a Prison in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are major health concerns worldwide. Recent data indicate a decline in prevalence in the Saudi population; however, there are no data on the prevalence in prisoners. This study is the first to investigate the prevalence of viral hepatitis in female inmates in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. This study aimed to explore the prevalence of HBV and HCV infections and to assess the knowledge and attitudes related to these infections among inmates. Inmates were interviewed using a pre-designed questionnaire, and their blood samples were tested for HBV and HCV infections using serology, PCR, and phylogenetic analysis. The overall prevalence of HBV infection in the study population was 4.4%. The age group > 25 years was predominantly affected; 11.1% of the infected cases were Saudi nationals, and 88.9% were non-Saudis. The prevalence of HCV infection was 2.4%. Among the studied variables, age and previous employment were significantly associated with positive HBV PCR, while conviction, knowledge about protection from sexually transmitted infections (STIs), knowledge about condom use for protection against STIs, and condom use for protection against STIs were significantly associated with HCV infection. This study shows higher HBV and HCV prevalence in the female prisoners in Briman prison compared to the general population. Uneducated prisoners, over 25 years old, and convicted of prostitution are more associated with both HBV and HCV infection. Future preventive plans should include screening new prisoners with these risk factors for HBV and HCV at the time of entry.

Prevalence and clinical consequences of Hepatitis C virus infection in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality among hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HCT) recipients. In Brazil, its occurrence in HCT recipients remains undetermined. We now report on HCV prevalence in HCT recipients and its clinical consequences. The medical records of all HCT recipients seen at Hospital das Clinicas, Sao Paulo University Medical School, from January 2010 to January 2020 were reviewed to determine HCV serostatus. A retrospective analysis of medical charts was undertaken on all seropositive cases to determine HCV genotype, presence of liver fibrosis, co-infections with other viruses, previous treatments, and clinical evolution of liver pathology after HCT. Of the 1,293 HCT recipients included in the study, seven (0.54%) were HCV antibody-positive and five (0.39%) were also viremic for HCV-RNA. Four of these individuals had moderate to severe liver fibrosis (METAVIR F2/F3) and one was cirrhotic. Two of the viremic patients developed acute liver dysfunction following transplantation. All patients had their acute episode of liver dysfunction resolved with no further complications. Four of the viremic patients were treated for HCV infection with direct acting agents (DAA). Information regarding HCV treatment was lacking for one of the viremic HCV patients due to loss of follow up. Sustained anti-virologic responses were observed in three cases after the use of DAA. The detection of HCV in hematological adults undergoing HCT and its successful treatment with DAA highlight the necessity of testing for HCV both prior to and following transplantation.

Piloting a simplified bio-behavioural survey methodology, the BBS-Lite, among people who inject drugs in Georgia

BackgroundDuring 2021 and 2023 two simplified Biological and Behavioural Study (BBS-Lite) surveys, and in 2022 one Standard Integrated Biological and Behavioural Study (IBBS), were conducted among people who inject drugs in seven cities in Georgia. From these, an opportunity to compare the implementation of these survey methods and results was able to be gained. MethodsThe two survey types were compared to find points of similarity and difference in their methodologies. The methodologies of the IBBS and BBS-Lite studies shared many characteristics, including the cities where they were implemented, recruitment criteria, sample sizes, and common questionnaire items. All studies were multi-centre cross-sectional involving administration of a face-to-face behavioural questionnaire and collection of biological specimens for testing of HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV). The main differences were in the sampling methods. The IBBS utilised respondent-driven sampling (RDS) while participants of the BBS-Lite studies were enrolled through consecutive recruitment at the harm reduction (HR) programme sites and on outreach and through snowball sampling. We compared the results from each study as well as the implementation modalities modalities such as time taken and budgetary requirements, and the complexity of implementation. ResultsConsiderably less time was required for recruitment, as well as for interviewing, data entry (4 times less) and the analysis for the BSS-Lite studies compared to the IBBS. The BSS-Lite study budgets were at least 2.5 times less than of the IBBS study.The recruited samples were comparable for age distribution, median age at first injection, the last drug injected, sharing of drug injecting equipment or receiving opioid agonist maintenance treatment (OAMT) during the last 12 months. HIV and HCV prevalence were similar including for stratifications by age, client status and city of recruitment. ConclusionOur findings have demonstrated that if implemented on a regular basis, the BBS-Lite can be a complementary solution for systematic data collection, filling surveillance gaps and addressing the challenges that persist in obtaining important data on people who inject drugs (PWID) between IBBS rounds in the country. The methodology is recommended for testing in other settings and in other key populations. In addition, the data collected on a routine base can help the harm reduction (HR) program to better understand the changes in the drug scene and observe new trends in HIV risks and drug injecting behaviours, possible barriers for access to harm reduction, drug treatment, and HIV and/or viral hepatitis testing and treatment services.

The usefulness of anti-HCV signal to cut-off ratio in predicting hepatitis C viremia and the effect of genotype differences on signal to cut-off ratio.

In the hepatitis C virus (HCV) diagnostic algorithm, an anti-HCV screening test is recommended first. In countries with low HCV prevalence, anti-HCV testing can often give false-positive results. This may lead to unnecessary retesting, increased costs, and psychological stress for patients. In this study, the most appropriate S/Co (signal-cutoff) value to predict HCV viremia in anti-HCV test(+) individuals was determined, and the effect of genotype differences was evaluated. Of the 96,515 anti-HCV tests performed between 2020 and 2023, 934 were reactive. A total of 332 retests and 65 patients without HCV-ribonucleic acid (RNA) analysis were excluded. Demographic data were calculated for 537 patients, and 130 patients were included in the study. The average age of 537 patients was 55±18 years, and 57.1% were women. The anti-HCV positivity rate was 0.62% (602/96,515), and the actual anti-HCV positivity rate was 0.13% (130/96,515). Anti-HCV levels were higher in HCV-RNA(+) patients than in HCV-RNA-negative individuals (p<0.0001) (Table 1). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis identified the optimal S/Co value to be 10.86 to identify true positive cases. Sensitivity was 96.1%, specificity was 61.2%, positive predictive value (PPV) was 44.2%, and negative predictive value (NPV) was 98% (Figure 2). A total of 107 (82.3%) of the patients were identified as GT1, and the most common subtype was GT1b (n=100). If anti-HCV S/Co is ≥10.86, direct HCV RNA testing may be recommended; However, the possibility of false positivity should be considered in patients with a S/Co value below 10.86.

Association of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) footprints with the comorbidity of latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection: A multicenter cross-sectional study

AimsThis study aims to investigate the interplay between hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and major forms of diabetes: type 1 diabetes (T1D), type 2 diabetes (T2D), and latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA). MethodsThis multicenter study analyzed a cohort of 2699 diabetic and 7344 non-diabetic subjects who visited medical centers in China from 2014 to 2021. T1D, T2D, LADA, and HCV were diagnosed using standard procedures. High-throughput sequencing was conducted to identify genetic footprints of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles and haplotypes at the DRB1, DQA1, and DQB1 loci. ResultsHCV infection was detected in 3 % (23/766) of LADA patients, followed by 1.5 % (15/977) of T2D patients, 1.4 % (13/926) of T1D patients, and 0.5 % (38/7344) of non-diabetic individuals. HCV prevalence was significantly higher in people with diabetes than in non-diabetic individuals (p < 0.01). HLA alleles (DQB1*060101, DQB1*040101) and haplotypes (DRB1*080302-DQA1*010301-DQB1*060101) in LADA patients with HCV revealed higher frequencies than in LADA patients without HCV (adjusted p < 0.03). Furthermore, a higher risk of diabetes complications was found among LADA patients with HCV infection (p < 0.001). ConclusionsLADA patients are susceptible to HCV infection, potentially associated with certain HLA alleles/haplotypes. Early diagnosis and treatment of HCV infection among people with diabetes are important for the management of severe complications.

Prevalence and Genotype Distribution of Hepatitis C Virus Infection at Zonal Hospital in Northern India

Abstract Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major public health concern. Persons living with HCV infection are at risk of developing liver cirrhosis and progressing to end-stage liver disease and liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma). The present study was undertaken to assess the prevalence of HCV infection in patients admitted as well as outpatient department services of a Zonal Hospital. Methods: The present study was cross-sectional, observational study, conducted in patients &gt;18 years of age, clinically suspected acute infectious hepatitis or admitted to the intensive care unit, and willing to participate in the study. Results: In the present study, 472 patients were studied for hepatitis C infection. Majority of cases were from 51 to 60 years age group (34.5%), followed by 61–70 years age group (26.7%). Female cases were (51.3%) slightly more than male (48.7%). Rapid method and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) methods detected HCV prevalence as 5.7% and 12.5%, respectively. After HCV genotype testing, the prevalence was 12.1%. Majority had 3A genotype (69.49%), followed by 1A genotype (16.95%), 1B genotype (8.47%), 3B genotype (3.39%), and 4 genotypes (1.69%). ELISA testing was significantly correlated with HCV genotype testing (P = 0.017) while the rapid method was not correlated with HCV genotype testing (P = 0.937). Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of HCV among the suspected, genotype 3 being the most common.

1516. High Incidence of Newly Infected Syphilis, Hepatitis B and C Virus among People Living with HIV Who Have Reached U=U

Abstract Background The concept of “Undetectable equals Untransmittable (U=U)” has been widely accepted. However the risk of acquiring other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as syphilis (TP), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) in people living with HIV (PLWH) in the context of “U=U” remains unclear. This study evaluated the incidence of newly STDs in PLWH in Shenzhen, China. Methods 128 virally suppressed PLWH were investigated from March 21 to April 7 2023 at the Third People’s Hospital of Shenzhen. Information on sexual behavior, the awareness rate of U=U and clinical records were collected. Results of HBSAg, HCV RNA, TP antibody before ART(calculating baseline prevalence) and in follow-up(calculating incidence) were collected. The STD incidences among various subgroups were compared. Results At baseline, the prevalence of TP, HBV and HCV were 29.7%(38/128), 15.6%(20/128), and 1.56%(2/128). 78(60.9%) PLWH were not coinfected with any STDs, of which were male with a median age of 36.8 years (IQR 29, 42) and median duration of ART 4.9 years (IQR 2.3, 7), 75(96.2%) were men who have sex with men(MSM). Twelve TP, six HBV and five HCV new infections occurred over 382.9 person-years; the corresponding incidences were 3.13/100 person-years, 1.57/100 person-years and 1.31/100 person-years, respectively. One participant had TP/HBV co-infection, one had HBV/HCV, and one had TP/HCV. Surprisingly, all six newly HBV-infected PWLH received a TDF/TAF+XTC-based regimen. Among the 45 participants who had reached the awareness of U=U and 33 who had not, the new TP incidence were 2.35/100 and 4.11/100 person-years, the new HBV incidence were 1.88/100 and 1.76/100 person-yearsand, the new HCV incidence were 1.88/100 and 1.17/100 person-years(p &amp;gt; 0.05), respectively. Conclusion The high incidence of newly acquired TP, HBV and HCV infection after reaching U=U highlights the necessity of STD screening and prevention in viral suppression population in PWLH. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

Hepatitis C virus micro-elimination in people who inject drugs: Challenges and chance in Taiwan and worldwide.

With the introduction of direct-acting antivirals, elimination of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is becoming possible. People who inject drugs (PWID) represent a population with a high risk for HCV infection, which has been reported as high as 90% in Taiwanese PWID. To reach the goal of HCV elimination, PWID is a key population deserving special attention. Barriers in HCV care cascade still exist in PWID, and interventions to promote access to HCV diagnosis, link-to-care, treatment, and prevention for PWID are warranted. Although HCV micro-elimination can be achieved in some prisons and opioid substitution therapy (OST) centers by a multidisciplinary team and integrated care in Taiwan, there are still several unmet needs for HCV elimination in PWID. Continuous efforts, such as the participation of OST specialists and the continuum of care for HCV among PWID, are needed to achieve HCV elimination in Taiwan. In addition, the combination of harm reduction services, treatment as prevention and regular posttreatment HCV surveillance is critical to substantially reduce HCV transmission and prevalence in PWID.

Molecular evolution, virology and spatial distribution of HCV genotypes in Pakistan: A meta-analysis

BackgroundHepatitis C, caused by the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), is the second most common form of viral hepatitis. The geographical distribution of HCV genotypes can be quite complex, making it challenging to ascertain the most prevalent genotype in a specific area. MethodsTo address this, a review was conducted to determine the prevalence of HCV genotypes across various provinces and as a whole in Pakistan. The scientific literature regarding the prevalence, distribution, genotyping, and epidemiology of HCV was gathered from published articles spanning the years 1996–2020. ResultsGenotype 1 accounted for 5.1% of the patients, with its predominant subtype being 1a at 4.38%. The frequencies of its other subtypes, 1b and 1c, were observed to be 1.0% and 0.31% respectively. Genotype 2 had a frequency of 2.66%, with the most widely distributed subtype being 2a at 2.11% of the patients. Its other subtypes, 2b and 2c, had frequencies of 0.17% and 0.36% respectively. The most prevalent genotype among all isolates was 3 (65.35%), with the most frequent subtype being 3a (55.15%), followed by 3b (7.18%). The prevalence of genotypes 4, 5, and 6 were scarce in Pakistan, with frequencies of 0.97%, 0.08%, and 0.32% respectively. The prevalence of untypeable and mixed genotypes was 21.34% and 3.53% respectively. Estimating genotypes proves to be a productive method in assisting with the duration and selection of antiviral treatment. Different HCV genotypes can exhibit variations in their response to specific antiviral treatments. Different genotypes may have distinct natural histories, including variations in disease progression and severity. Some genotypes may lead to more rapid liver damage, while others progress more slowly. ConclusionsThis information can guide screening and testing strategies, helping to identify individuals at higher risk of developing severe complications. Studying the distribution of HCV genotypes in a population can provide valuable insights into the transmission dynamics of the virus.

Using the Diabetes Care System for a County-Wide Hepatitis C Elimination: An Integrated Community-Based Shared Care Model in Taiwan.

Despite the serious risks of diabetes with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, this preventable comorbidity is rarely a priority for HCV elimination. We aim to examine how a shared care model could eliminate HCV in patients with diabetes (PwD) in primary care. There were 27 community-based Diabetes Health Promotion Institutes in each township/city of Changhua, Taiwan. PwD from these institutes from January 2018 to December 2020 were enrolled. HCV screening and treatment were integrated into diabetes structured care through collaboration between diabetes care and HCV care teams. Outcome measures included HCV care continuum indicators. Township/city variation in HCV infection prevalence and care cascades were also examined. Of the 10,684 eligible PwD, 9,984 (93.4%) underwent HCV screening, revealing a 6.18% (n = 617) anti-HCV seroprevalence. Among the 597 eligible seropositive individuals, 507 (84.9%) completed the RNA test, obtaining 71.8% positives. Treatment was initiated by 327 (89.8%) of 364 viremic patients, and 315 (86.5%) completed it, resulting in a final cure rate of 79.4% (n = 289). Overall, with the introduction of antivirals in this cohort, the prevalence of viremic HCV infection dropped from 4.44% to 1.34%, yielding a 69.70% (95% credible interval 63.64%-77.03%) absolute reduction. Although HCV prevalence varied, the care cascades achieved consistent results across townships/cities. We have further successfully implemented the model in county-wide hospital-based diabetes clinics, eventually treating 89.6% of the total PwD. A collaborative effort between diabetes care and HCV elimination enhanced the testing and treatment in PwD through an innovative shared care model.

Outcomes of Pharmacist-Led Treatment of Hepatitis C in the Virginia Department of Corrections.

A higher proportion of people in correctional settings have, or are at risk for, hepatitis C virus (HCV) due to socioeconomic factors, mental health concerns, substance use disorders, history of high-risk experiences, and more. Compared with the general population, the prevalence of HCV is 10 times higher among people who are incarcerated. The objective of this retrospective cohort study was to describe the HCV treatment cascade in a pharmacist-led clinic model, from referral through treatment completion and documentation of cure. Pharmacists in the Virginia Department of Corrections, in collaboration with Virginia Commonwealth University, established and led a telemedicine HCV clinic. A total of 1,040 incarcerated individuals with chronic HCV infection were treated between January 2020 and January 2022. In this study, the clinical endpoint was the number of patients achieving a 12-week sustained virological response (SVR12), which is considered cure of an HCV infection. The economic endpoint was total dollars spent per patient to achieve the SVR12. Participants were HCV treatment naïve, positive for HCV genotypes 1-6, not concurrently infected with HIV, and without decompensated liver disease. The overall cure rate was 97% with no discontinuation due to adverse effects. The cost-to-cure ratio was $23,223/person achieving SVR12.

Hepatitis C Prevalence on the Rise but Screening at Safety Net Institutions Lagging behind.

In the United States, the hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a leading contributor to liver-related illnesses and fatalities. Despite effective antiviral medications, acute infections have increased in recent years, likely due to IV drug use and the opioid epidemic. Previous guidelines recommended one-time screening for individuals born between 1945 and 1965. The CDC now recommends screening all adults over 18 unless there is a low prevalence in the area. Accurate measurement of HCV prevalence is essential for targeted prevention. In New York, over 100,000 individuals have HCV. We present data on HCV screening at a safety net hospital in Long Island, NY. To identify screening rates for hepatitis C and the exposure prevalence and specific demographics of a community in Long Island, NY. We performed a review of all patients seen in our hospital from 2012 to 2019. We identified patients born in the years 1945 to 1965 using our electronic medical record (EMR) system and subsequently analyzed those who were anti-HCV positive. We reviewed their demographics, including age, gender, and ethnicity, as well as their history of intravenous drug use and HIV coinfection status. Basic statistical analysis was used. Our study identified 21,722 patients born between 1945 and 1965 and found that only 8.5% or 1,858 individuals were screened for hepatitis C. Among them, we found that 5.9% (109) tested positive for HCV antibody, with 3.0% (56) having an active infection. Demographic characteristics of those with HCV antibodies included 70.6% male, 53.2% Caucasian, 33.9% Black, and 15.6% persons who inject drugs (PWID). Our study findings suggest that a significant portion of patients in our community had missed opportunities for screening in our hospital. Our community had an estimated 5.9% prevalence, higher than the national and state averages. Caucasian men had higher prevalences. This study suggests the need for broader screening initiatives and more focused resource allocation, perhaps to safety net institutions, to decrease the burden of HCV.

Prevalence of HIV, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, drug use, and sexual behaviors among street children in Iran: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Street children face a disproportionately higher risk of human immunodeficiency virus(HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) due to high-risk sexual and drug use practices. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of these infections and related risk behaviors among street children in Iran. We searched PubMed, Web of Science (ISI), Embase, Scopus, and Google Scholar for the English-language records and Iranian databases, including SID, Magiran, and IRANDOC for the Farsi-language records up to September 18, 2022. Random effects analysis was used to obtain prevalence estimates for each condition. Homogeneity across included studies was assessed using I 2. We extracted data from 18 eligible studies, representing 5646 children (83.2% boys), with a mean age of 10.2 (range: 5-18). The prevalence of HIV, HBV, and HCV were 0.79% (95% confidence intervals [CIs]: 0.0-5.56), 1.97% (95% CI: 1.01-3.19), and 1.88% (95% CI: 0.74-3.46), respectively. The prevalence of lifetime drug use and sexual abuse was 8.32% (95% CI: 4.83-12.62) and 10.18% (95% CI: 3.02-20.67) among street children, respectively. The estimated prevalence of HIV, HBV, and HCV among street children in Iran was higher than the estimates in the general population. Moreover, drug use and the experience of sexual abuse were prevalent among this population. These findings suggest the need for targeted prevention programs for street children in Iran.

Coinfection of HCV among HIV-infected patients: Across-sectional study in rivers State, Nigeria

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has emerged as the cause of the second major epidemic of viral infection after human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) within the past two decades. HCV is the cause of more than three-quarters of liver-relate deaths in HIV-seropositive individuals and it is remarkable that today approximately one-quarter of HIV-infected individuals Aim: this study aimed at determining the prevalence of coinfection patterns of HCV among HIV infected individual in Rivers State, Nigeria. Materials and methods: A retrospective survey conducted on 350 HIV infected individual attending ART clinic at Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Sociodemographic data were collected based on interviewer-based questionnaire, and clinical history was obtained from participants' medical records. Antibody analyses for HCV were done using ELISA method. Results: The prevalence of hepatitis C virus coinfection among HIV positive individual was 6(4.0%), The prevalence of HCV and HIV positive individual with regards to age was high within the age of 21 -40 5(2.4%). Prevalence based on gender was females 4(1.1%) and males 2(1.4%), prevalence of HIV/HCV co-infection with respect to marital status was high among the single 6(4.9%), prevalence of HIV/HCV co-infection with respect educational status was high with tertiary 3(3.5%) than the secondary 3(1.6%). The prevalence among the different occupational groups, business had the highest co-infection rate (1.1%) followed closely by Working class (0.8%). Higher HIV/HCV co-infection was observed among those with CD4 cell count 350-499 cells/μl (4.6%). Conclusion: However, the low burden of this hepatotropic virus coinfection calls for continued need to screen for HCV among individual infected with HIV before the start of ART.

Long-term trends in hepatitis C prevalence, treatment uptake and liver-related events in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study.

Treatment for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections changed dramatically in the last decade. We assessed changes in the prevalence of replicating HCV infection, treatment uptake and liver-related morbidity and mortality in persons with HIV (PWH) and hepatitis C in the Swiss HIV cohort study. We included all cohort participants between 2002 and 2021. We assessed yearly prevalence of replicating HCV infection, overall and liver-related mortality, as well as the yearly incidence of liver-related events in persons with at least one documented positive HCV-RNA. Of 14 652 participants under follow-up, 2294 had at least one positive HCV-RNA measurement. Of those, 1316 (57%) ever received an HCV treatment. Treatment uptake increased from 8.1% in 2002 to a maximum of 32.6% in 2016. Overall, prevalence of replicating HCV infection declined from 16.5% in 2004 to 1.3% in 2021. HCV prevalence declined from 63.2% to 7.1% in persons who inject drugs, and from 4.1% to 0.6% in men who have sex with men. Among the 2294 persons with replicating HCV infection, overall mortality declined from a maximum of 3.3 per 100 patient-years (PY) to 1.1 per 100 PY, and incidence of liver-related events decreased from 1.4/100 PY to 0.2/100 PY. The introduction of DAA therapy was associated with a more than 10-fold reduction in prevalence of replicating HCV infection in PWH, approaching the estimates in the general population. Overall mortality and liver-related events declined substantially in persons living with HIV and hepatitis C.

Seroprevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Hepatitis C Virus, and Hepatitis B Virus Among Blood Donors in Sidi Bel Abbes, West Algeria.

Introduction Blood transfusions can transmit various viruses. Among them, the most common are hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). These viruses can cause fatal and life-threatening diseases. Worldwide, many people are infected with these viruses. Blood safety has made majorprogress in recent years. Yet, blood-borne viruses continue to be a major concern for patients, physicians, and policymakers. The aim of this study was to assessthe prevalence of HIV, HBV, and HCV in blood donors. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed to assess HIV, HBV, and HCV seropositivity in blood donors. This research was carried out at the blood bank of Sidi Bel Abbes University Hospital. This was a retrospective study based on records of blood donors. All data of 10,386 donors were analyzed from January 2015 to December 2015. Biological screening was performed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using antibodies and/or antigens. The combined HCV and HIV antigen and antibody ELISA test was utilized. To confirm the results, the blood bank and the virology laboratory used the same technique in duplicate. Results The overall seroprevalence of blood-borne viral infections (HIV, HBV, and HCV) in blood donors was 0.8%. The prevalence of HIV was found to be 0.1%, while the prevalence of HBV and HCV was 0.4%. Coinfection was rare with only one case of HBV with HIV.There was a significant difference in seroprevalence rates among blood donors compared to the general population. Significant variations were observed between the prevalence of this study and those conducted in West, East, Central, and South African countries but not with those of neighboringNorth African countries. The study found no association between seropositivity in blood donors and factors like age, gender, donor status, type of donation, or site. Besides, HIV, HBV, or HCV prevalence was not influenced by ABO and Rhesus blood group. Conclusion The study showed that blood donors in Algeria have a lower prevalence of blood-borne viral infections than the general population. The seropositivity rate of viral markers was similar throughout North African countries. This rate remained low compared to other African countries. Residual risk of infection persists. There is a need to increase blood safety for recipients. This report is the first comprehensive overview of blood-borne viruses among Algerian blood donors. There is a need for further nationwide studies to get a whole picture of the situation.