Each year, the INHSU Prisons Executive Committee collates the list of all prison-focused hepatitis C research published in the calendar year and votes on those they consider to be of outstanding and special interest. 2023’s bibliography is now available.
The INHSU Prisons Executive Committee would like to congratulate everyone who has published papers this year for their commitment to producing exceptional research in carceral settings globally.
View the articles considered to be of outstanding and special interest below, or download the entire bibliography here.
Incidence of hepatitis C virus infection in the prison setting: The SToP-C study
Hajarizadeh B, Carson JM, Byrne M, Grebely J, Cunningham E, Amin J, Vickerman P, Martin NK, Treloar C, Martinello M, Lloyd AR, Dore GJ; SToP-C study group.
Summary: This study demonstrated that the overall HCV incidence was 6.11/100 person-years (95%CI: 5.07-7.35), with higher rate of re-infection (9.34/100 person-years; 95%CI: 7.15-12.19) than primary infection (4.60/100 person-years; 95%CI: 3.56-5.96). This risk was higher in people injecting drugs in prison (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR): 10.55), and it was reduced among those receiving high-dosage opioid agonist therapy (aHR: 0.11), highlighting the need for improved OAT coverage and needle/syringe programmes to reduce sharing injecting equipment.
Sheehan Y, Cunningham EB, Cochrane A, Byrne M, Brown T, McGrath C, Lafferty L, Tedla N, Dore GJ, Lloyd AR, Grebely J.
Summary: This study showed that a “one-stop-shop” prison intervention (point-of-care HCV testing and a nurse-led evaluation before treatment initiation) can enhance treatment uptake (from 22% to 93%) and reduced time to treatment initiation (from 99 days-median to 6 days) among people recently incarcerated.
Estimates of Hepatitis C Seroprevalence and Viremia in State Prison Populations in the United States
Spaulding AC, Kennedy SS, Osei J, Sidibeh E, Batina IV, Chhatwal J, Akiyama MJ, Strick LB.
Summary: The HCV prevalence in state prisons was found to be nearly 9-fold higher than the US general population. There was great heterogeneity in HCV prevalence by state prison system, which may reflect variable exposure before arrest and/or differences in treatment availability during incarceration. Elimination of HCV in the US will depend on addressing the carceral epidemic.
Outcomes of Pharmacist-Led Treatment of Hepatitis C in the Virginia Department of Corrections
Masuda QN, Smith JE, Gaines J, Dillingham RA.
Summary: This study used a telemedicine HCV clinic in collaboration with the Virginia Commonwealth University. They achieved a 97% cure rate with a cost-to-cure ratio of $23,223/person achieving SVR12.
Mixed-methods evaluation of point-of-care hepatitis C virus RNA testing in a Scottish prison
Byrne CJ, Malaguti A, Inglis SK, Dillon JF.
Summary: A mixed methods study was conducted to evaluate the impact of point-of-care testing by a nurse in a maximum-security prison on transition to treatment. This model of care showed a reduced time to treatment initiation, however, there were important cost implications and multiple determinants that impact implementation that require attention.
Wallis C, O’Flynn M, Fenech M, Grimstrup D.
Impact of 5 years of hepatitis C testing and treatment in the North East of England prisons
Johnson A, Shearer J, Thompson C, Jelley R, Aldridge J, Allsop C, Kerry J, Jones D, McCullough F, Miller C, Valappil M, Taha Y, Masson S, Jefferson T, Lawton C, Christensen L, McPherson S.
HIV/STI/HCV Risk Clusters and Hierarchies Experienced by Women Recently Released from Incarceration
Johnson KA, Hunt T, Puglisi L, Chapman B, Epa-Llop A, Elumn J, Braick P, Bhagat N, Ko E, Nguyen A, Johnson R, Graham HK, Gilbert L, El-Bassel N, Morse DS.
Curtis M, Wilkinson AL, Dietze P, Stewart AC, Kinner SA, Winter RJ, Aitken C, Walker SJ, Cossar RD, Butler T, Stoové M.
Curtis M, Wilkinson AL, Dietze P, Stewart AC, Kinner SA, Cossar RD, Nehme E, Aitken C, Walker S, Butler T, Winter RJ, Smith K, Stoove M.
Click the button below to download the full list of articles from the 2023 INHSU Prisons Bibliography.