Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Pedro Mateu-Gelabert, Nasim S. Sabounchi, Honoria Guarino, Courtney Ciervo, Kellie Joseph, Benjamin J. Eckhardt, Chunki Fong, Shashi N. Kapadia, Terry T. K. Huang
Summary: Injection drug use is the main risk factor for hepatitis C virus transmission in the U.S., particularly among young people who inject drugs (YPWID). This study found that around one-third of YPWID in New York City had been exposed to HCV, with certain risk factors such as sharing drug paraphernalia, long-term drug use, homelessness, and multiple incarcerations significantly associated with HCV status. A qualitative system dynamics model was developed to better understand how these risk factors interact and inform potential interventions for reducing HCV infections.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Heather Valerio, Maryam Alavi, David Silk, Carla Treloar, Marianne Martinello, Andrew Milat, Adrian Dunlop, Jo Holden, Charles Henderson, Janaki Amin, Phillip Read, Philippa Marks, Louisa Degenhardt, Jeremy Hayllar, David Reid, Carla Gorton, Thao Lam, Gregory J. Dore, Jason Grebely
Summary: This study in Australia found a marked decline in HCV prevalence among people who inject drugs, with high treatment uptake observed. However, additional support and tailored strategies may be necessary for marginalized PWID, such as homeless individuals and those injecting drugs daily. Additionally, lower HCV treatment uptake was reported among females and homeless individuals.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Nicolas Nagot, Nguyen Thanh Binh, Tran Thi Hong, Vu Hai Vinh, Catherine Quillet, Roselyne Vallo, Duong Thi Huong, Khuat Thi Hai Oanh, Nham Thi Tuyet Thanh, Delphine Rapoud, Bach Thi Nhu Quynh, Duc Quang Nguyen, Jonathan Feelemyer, Laurent Michel, Peter Vickerman, Hannah Fraser, Laurence Weiss, Maud Lemoine, Karine Lacombe, Don Des Jarlais, Pham Minh Khue, Jean Pierre Moles, DRIVE C Study Grp
Summary: This study assessed the effectiveness of a strategy to eliminate hepatitis C among people who inject drugs in Hai Phong, Vietnam. The strategy includes community-based screening, hospital-based care, and prevention of reinfection. The findings suggest that this strategy is a promising approach to eliminate hepatitis C among people who inject drugs in low and middle-income countries.
LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH-WESTERN PACIFIC
(2023)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Havard Midgard, Ronny Bjornestad, Maren Egeland, Eivin Dahl, Ane-Kristine Finbraten, Knut B. Kielland, Martin Blindheim, Olav Dalgard
Summary: This study evaluated a HCV treatment model using point-of-care testing and liver disease assessment in a peer-driven mobile clinic. Results showed that this model achieved good HCV treatment uptake among people who inject drugs.
LIVER INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Heather Bradley, Eric W. Hall, Alice Asher, Nathan W. Furukawa, Christopher M. Jones, Jalissa Shealey, Kate Buchacz, Senad Handanagic, Nicole Crepaz, Eli S. Rosenberg
Summary: The study estimated that about 3.69 million people injected drugs in the United States in 2018, accounting for 1.46% of the adult population. Injection drug use prevalence was highest among males (2.1%), non-Hispanic Whites (1.8%), and adults aged 18-39 years (1.8%).
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Phyo T. Z. Aung, Tim Spelman, Anna L. Wilkinson, Paul M. Dietze, Mark A. Stoove, Margaret E. Hellard
Summary: This study analyzed the time-to-treatment initiation before and after the availability of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) drugs in order to provide insights for improving HCV care. Data were collected from the SuperMIX cohort study in Melbourne, Australia. Time-to-event analysis revealed that among HCV-positive participants, the median time to treatment initiation was 7 years for 102 individuals (45.7%), but reduced to 2.3 years for those tested positive after 2016. Factors associated with a shorter time-to-treatment initiation included opioid agonist therapy, engagement with health or social services, and having a positive HCV RNA test after March 2016. The study highlights the importance of improving engagement with health services and integrating drug treatment services into routine HCV care for timely treatment.
EPIDEMIOLOGY AND INFECTION
(2023)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Christopher J. Byrne, Lewis Beer, Sarah K. Inglis, Emma Robinson, Andrew Radley, David J. Goldberg, Matthew Hickman, Sharon Hutchinson, John F. Dillon
Summary: The rapid scale-up of HCV treatment for People Who Inject Drugs in the Tayside region in 2017 achieved a high Sustained Virologic Response rate. Community pharmacies and needle exchanges initiated nearly half of all treatments, but there was no significant difference in treatment outcomes compared to hospital care pathways.
ALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Shelley N. Facente, Sheena Patel, Jennifer Hecht, Erin Wilson, Willi McFarland, Kimberly Page, Peter Vickerman, Hannah Fraser, Katie Burk, Meghan D. Morris
Summary: In San Francisco, young people who inject drugs, men who have sex with men and inject drugs, and low-income trans women have relatively high rates of HCV diagnosis, but there is an urgent need to increase treatment initiation, especially among young people who inject drugs.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Havard Midgard, Kristian Braathen Malme, Charlotte Meinich Pihl, Riikka Mari Berg-Pedersen, Lars Tanum, Ingvild Klundby, Anne Haug, Ida Tveter, Ronny Bjornestad, Inge Christoffer Olsen, Ane-Kristine Finbraten, Olav Dalgard
Summary: This study evaluated the efficacy of opportunistic treatment of HCV infection among hospitalized PWID and found that it was superior to standard care. The results suggest that this model of care should be considered for broader implementation.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Michael B. MacIsaac, Bradley Whitton, Adrian Hubble, Shelley Cogger, Matthew Penn, Anthony Weeks, Kasey Elmore, David Pemberton, Jenine Anderson, Rebecca Howard, Una McKeever, Timothy Papaluca, Margaret E. Hellard, Mark Stoove, David Wilson, Alisa Pedrana, Joseph Doyle, Nico Clark, Jacinta Holmes, Alexander J. Thompson
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of testing and treating people who inject drugs for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection at a supervised injecting facility. A retrospective cohort study was conducted among people who attended the Melbourne supervised injecting facility from June 30, 2018 to June 30, 2020. The results showed that testing and treatment for hepatitis C on site is feasible and can be effective in this population.
MEDICAL JOURNAL OF AUSTRALIA
(2023)
Article
Biology
Sona Frankova, Nikola Uzlova, Dusan Merta, Veronika Pitova, Jan Sperl
Summary: HCV infection often goes untreated in people who inject drugs, resulting in advanced liver fibrosis at a young age. This study aimed to assess the rate of significant fibrosis in PWID starting anti-HCV therapy and identify associated factors. Results showed that a quarter of PWID presented with significant liver fibrosis at treatment initiation, with obesity, long-term drug abstinence, harmful drinking, and older age contributing to advanced liver fibrosis.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Francesco Giuseppe Foschi, Alberto Borghi, Alberto Grassi, Arianna Lanzi, Elvira Speranza, Teo Vignoli, Lucia Napoli, Deanna Olivoni, Michele Sanza, Edoardo Polidori, Giovanni Greco, Paolo Bassi, Francesco Cristini, Giorgio Ballardini, Mattia Altini, Fabio Conti
Summary: The study evaluated the impact of a multidisciplinary intervention strategy on DAA therapy for PWID by conducting HCV screening, treatment, and follow-up in the same location. The results showed that in this setting, DAA regimens were well tolerated and highly effective, achieving a lower rate of reinfection.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Kailu Fang, Hong-liang Wang, Yushi Lin, Shuwen Li, Jie Wu
Summary: China has the highest number of people infected with hepatitis C, especially among people who inject drugs. Preventing the transmission of hepatitis C in this group is crucial for preventing future liver diseases. By using a mathematical model, we found that scaling up screening and treatment for hepatitis C, integrated with harm reduction programs, can significantly reduce the burden of the disease in China by 2030. Increasing harm reduction program coverage among people who inject drugs has a greater impact in reducing the burden of hepatitis C compared to enhanced linkage to care or test frequency alone. Substantial improvements in testing and treatment, along with existing harm reduction programs, are necessary to eliminate hepatitis C in China by 2030.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND THERAPY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Rajesh Didiya, Deepak Gyenwali, Tara Nath Pokhrel, Sudha Devkota, Amrit Bikram Rai, Purusotam Raj Shedain, Mukunda Sharma, Madan Kumar Shrestha, Muhammad Imran, Zakir Kadirov, Bhawani Prasad Dahal, K. C. Prawchan, Sabir Ojha, Khem Narayan Pokhrel
Summary: The study found that PWIDs in Nepal were receptive to community-led HIV and HCV testing, with a high prevalence of HCV associated with injecting-related risk behaviors, OST use, and attendance at rehabilitation centers.
Article
Substance Abuse
Kristian Braathen Malme, Kjersti Ulstein, Ane-Kristine Finbraten, Linda Elise Couessurel Wusthoff, Knut Boe Kielland, Joakim Hauge, Olav Dalgard, Havard Midgard
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate HCV treatment uptake and HCV RNA prevalence among people who inject drugs in Norway. The results showed that although HCV treatment uptake has increased, strategies are still needed to improve treatment among women and individuals not engaged in opioid agonist treatment.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY
(2023)
Article
Substance Abuse
Lise Lafferty, Jake Rance, Gregory J. Dore, Andrew R. Lloyd, Carla Treloar
Summary: Social capital, including bonding, bridging, and linking, plays a significant role in promoting hepatitis C treatment uptake within a treatment-as-prevention trial in male prisons. Specifically, bonding social capital encourages treatment uptake, bridging social capital supports widespread treatment acceptance in the prison, and linking social capital fosters trust in study personnel, thereby enhancing treatment engagement.
Article
Substance Abuse
Jake Rance, Lise Lafferty, Carla Treloar
Summary: According to expert stakeholders' assessments of HCV treatment-as-prevention in Australian prisons, most believe in the universal rollout of direct-acting anti-virals, but express concerns about the lack of effective primary prevention in Australian prisons.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Loren Brener, Robyn Horwitz, Jake Rance, Rebecca Gray, Fiona Poeder, Joanne Bryant
Summary: Engaging consumers in AOD treatment is crucial, but faces challenges. Staff who participated in consumer participation training were more likely to believe service changes could encourage greater consumer participation. Most current consumer participation activities are at a low level, but there is support for higher levels of involvement.
HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE IN THE COMMUNITY
(2022)
Article
Substance Abuse
L. Lafferty, J. Rance, G. J. Dore, J. Grebely, A. R. Lloyd, C. Treloar
Summary: The study found that HCV treatment as prevention was widely accepted by correctional and prison health personnel, but environmental issues such as limited clinic space require a strategic approach to support prison-wide scale-up of HCV treatment.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Loren Brener, Robyn Horwitz, Jake Rance, Theresa Caruana, Joanne Bryant
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted staff working at harm reduction and alcohol and other drug services in Australia. However, they have been able to respond by implementing various measures such as modifying service delivery, taking on additional responsibilities for client safety, and implementing COVID-19 infection control strategies, thus ensuring continued service provision.
HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE IN THE COMMUNITY
(2022)
Article
Substance Abuse
L. Lafferty, J. Rance, M. Byrne, A. Milat, G. J. Dore, J. Grebely, A. R. Lloyd, C. Treloar
Summary: This study conducted a qualitative assessment of implementing HCV treatment-as-prevention in correctional centres and summarized the barriers and enablers faced by prison personnel.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY
(2022)
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Kerryn Drysdale, Jake Rance, Elena Cama, Carla Treloar, Limin Mao
Summary: Ageing with chronic viral hepatitis, particularly HBV and HCV, presents unique challenges in end-of-life care. Current literature primarily focuses on clinical aspects such as prognosis assessment and symptom management, while neglecting educative aspects and psychosocial interventions. The social and cultural dimensions of chronic viral hepatitis in the context of end-of-life are understudied.
HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE IN THE COMMUNITY
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Jake Rance, Joanne Bryant, Theresa Caruana, Loren Brener
Summary: This article presents in-depth interviews conducted with people who inject drugs in urban and regional Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic. Surprisingly, many participants reported minimal disruption to their everyday lives and even improved well-being. The study examines how care was realized in the daily routines and practices of the participants, with insights from Foucault's ethics and feminist perspectives on the politics of care.
SOCIOLOGY OF HEALTH & ILLNESS
(2023)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Carla Treloar, Jake Rance, Joanne Bryant, Lise Lafferty
Summary: This study investigates key informants' understandings of the use of targets and evidence in driving action for hepatitis C elimination, using New South Wales as a case study. The findings reveal that achieving elimination may require experimental approaches beyond existing evidence, and determining the metrics for evaluating return on investment is a major concern. The study suggests that the understanding of the evidence and strategies for elimination is still unsettled and may require a shift from evidence-based to evidence-making paradigm.
JOURNAL OF VIRAL HEPATITIS
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Daniel Storer, Lise Lafferty, Simon Graham, Dean Murphy, Jake Rance, Loren Brener, Holly Seale, Mohamed A. Hammoud, Garrett Prestage, Mitchell Beadman, Kristy Gardner, Megan Blaxland, Reuben Bolt, Theresa Caruana, Steven Philpot, John Rule, Joanne Bryant
Summary: This paper presents qualitative findings from in-depth interviews about COVID-19 vaccination conducted in Australia. The study includes four different populations who have experienced discrimination in healthcare settings: Aboriginal people, people who inject drugs, people living with HIV, and gay and bisexual men. The findings show that past experiences of discrimination can impact vaccine willingness, and promoting vaccination among these populations should consider their unique histories.
HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE IN THE COMMUNITY
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Jake Rance, Tim Rhodes, Kari Lancaster
Summary: This article explores how universal access to HCV treatment drugs affects the citizenship and social inclusion perceptions of people who inject drugs and others affected by HCV. Some narratives depict treatment as a citizenship potential, while others highlight limitations to its direct realization, emphasizing viral cure and neglecting the social disadvantages of injecting drug use.
Article
Substance Abuse
Jake Rance, Lise Lafferty, Carla Treloar
Summary: While concerns about the lack of primary prevention in Australian prisons were widespread among respondents, expert stakeholders showed broad levels of support for the intervention and the future scale-up of HCV treatment. Several key external and internal factors were identified, highlighting the importance of an enabling political-cum-policy environment and obtaining support from prisons' executive and custodial staff, among others.
HARM REDUCTION JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Substance Abuse
Kari Lancaster, Tim Rhodes, Jake Rance
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY
(2020)
Article
Substance Abuse
Lise Lafferty, Jake Rance, Jason Grebely, Gregory J. Dore, Andrew R. Lloyd, Carla Treloar
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY
(2020)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Jake Rance, Lise Lafferty, Carla Treloar
CRITICAL PUBLIC HEALTH
(2020)