Theme: Epidemiology & Public Health Research Year: 2016
HEPATITIS C VIRUS EXPOSURE, INFECTION AND ASSOCIATED RISK BEHAVIOURS IN TWO MAXIMUM-SECURITY PRISONS IN NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA Hajarizadeh B 1 , Grebely J 1 , Byrne M 1 , Marks P 1 , Butler T 1 , Amin J 1 , Vickerman P 2 , Martin NK2,3 , McHutchison JG4 , Brainard DM4 , Carla Treloar5 , Lloyd AR6* , Dore GJ1* *Joint senior authors 1. The Kirby Institute, UNSW Australia, Sydney, Australia 2. School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, UK 3. Division of Global Public Health, University of California San Diego, CA, USA 4. Gilead Sciences, Inc., Foster City, CA, USA 5. Centre for Social Research in Health, UNSW Australia, Sydney, Australia 6. Inflammation and Infection Research Centre, School of Medical Sciences, UNSW Australia, Sydney, Australia Background: The Surveillance and Treatment of Prisoners with hepatitis C (SToP-C) study is evaluating the impact of rapid scale-up of interferon-free HCV therapy on HCV transmission in prisons in New South Wales, Australia. This analysis characterises HCV epidemiology and risk behaviours among prisoners in two maximum-security prisons in SToP-C study. Methods: Data for this analysis includes prisoners enrolled from two maximum-security prisons between October 2014 and March 2016. At enrolment, participants received testing for HCV antibodies/RNA and completed a detailed survey, including injecting behaviours. Injecting behaviours by HCV infection/exposure status were evaluated. Results: In March 2016, 393 prisoners were enrolled (Prison A: n=308; Prison B: n=85). The median age was 34 years (IQR: 27, 44). The median duration of stay at the current prison was 2 years (IQR: 0.9, 5). Overall, 54% (n=213) were HCV antibody negative (Ab-), 18% (n=69) were HCV antibody positive/HCV RNA negative (Ab+/RNA-; including 19 with self-reported previous HCV treatment), and 28% (n=111) were HCV RNA positive (RNA+). Injecting illicit drugs during the current imprisonment was reported in 78% (83/111) of those RNA+, and 67% (46/69) of those Ab+/RNA-, compared with 11% (24/213) of those Ab- (P
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