HCV Epidemiology
It has been estimated that 1-2% of the general population (2.9 to 5.8 million people) in the United States has been exposed to HCV1, with 75% to 85% developing chronic HCV infection. The behavior that puts people most at risk for exposure to HCV is intravenous drug use (IDU). Other risks include use of shared injection equipment including cotton filters and "cookers,"2 unprotected sex with an HCV-infected partner (3%-13% lifetime risk), and receipt of blood products prior to 1988. Prevalence rates in certain high-risk groups are as high as 90% (Figure 1). Since so many of the behaviors that put people at risk for developing HCV infection also put them at risk for incarceration (ie IDU), it should not be surprising that HCV is common in the correctional setting.

CONTINUE...
 

• HCV Epidemiology
• Inmates at Risk
• Targeted Screening
• Who Should Get Treated?
• Shifting Standards for Treatment of HCV
• Expect Delays
• Length of Treatment
• Expected Outcome
• Liver Biopsy
• HIV/HCV Coinfection
• HIV/HCV Response Therapy
• Cost of Treatment
• Management
• New Guidelines for Corrections
• Conclusion
• References
• Figures 1, 2 & 3
• Box 1 & 2
• Tables 1 & 2

HEPP News is published twelve times a year by the: HIV Education/Prison Project at the Brown University AIDS Program Box G-B426 Brown University Providence, Rhode Island 02912 401-863-2180 fax 401-863-1243 heppnews@brown.edu