People who inject drugs (PWID) are vulnerable to a wide range of viral and bacterial infections. These infections can result in high levels of illness and in death, so public health surveillance of infectious diseases and the associated risk and protective behaviours among this group are important.
This report describes time trends on the extent of infections among PWID in the UK to the end of 2011. This year’s report focuses on hepatitis B virus infection but also contains updates on hepatitis C, HIV and bacterial infections.
Resources
Drug services professional
Around half of current injecting drug users will have hepatitis C, although this prevalence rate varies across the country. Find here tools, resources and other relevant documents to help drugs service staff raise awareness of hepatitis C amongst service users, and improve testing and access to care.
Showing 141 to 150 of 179 resources
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Shooting Up: Infections among people who inject drugs in the UK 2011. An update: November 2012
UK Nov 2012 Reports & Research PDF -
Hepatitis C Testing and Treatment in Wirral. Increasing Treatment Places: A Practical Solution
The following report describes the practical steps taken by the local partnership in Wirral in the wake of the Department of Health’s 2002 publication of the ‘Hepatitis C Strategy for England: Getting Ahead of the Curve’, aimed at systematically increasing hepatitis C awareness and testing in Wirral in such a way as to increase demand for treatment places. In doing so, the partnership hoped to tangibly reduce local hepatitis C prevalence and the associated burden of treatment in the longer term.North West Oct 2012 Reports & Research PDF -
Evaluation of the pilot provision of single use plastic water ampoules to people who inject drugs in Glasgow
Greater Glasgow and Clyde (GG&C) has an estimated injecting population of 8862. There are 74 Injecting Equipment Provision (IEP) outlets across the area to meet the paraphernalia needs of this population. Since 2009 GG&C has provided a comprehensive package of paraphernalia, including needle choice, spoons, filters, citric acid and swabs. However, until the start of this pilot, water for injecting (WFI) was not available from any of the 62 pharmacy outlets. In fact prior to the pilot only 3 outlets provided WFI and this was in a glass ampoule form.Scotland Sep 2012 Case study, Reports & Research PDF -
Increasing hepatitis B and C testing in the prison setting: The use of new diagnostics at HMP Manchester
Hepatitis B and C pose a major challenge to public health in the UK. Up to half a million people have one or both of these viruses, which can cause liver failure and cancer, yet only a minority have been diagnosed. Prevalence is particularly high in the prison population; evenNorth West Sep 2012 Case study, Reports & Research, Strategy & Planning PDF -
Hepatitis C in the UK - 2012 Report
The most recent national estimates in 2012 suggested that around 216,000 individuals were chronically infected with hepatitis C (HCV) in the UK. Both hospital admissions and deaths from HCV-related end stage liver disease (ESLD) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are continuing to rise. In England, statistical modelling predicts that 15,840 individuals will be living with HCV-related cirrhosis or HCC in England in 2020 if left untreated.UK Jul 2012 Reports & Research PDF -
National survey of hepatitis C services in prisons in England, July 2012
This is the first dedicated survey of hepatitis C services in prisons in England. The survey aim was to collect basic information on what type of services are provided in prisons for the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of prisoners infected by hepatitis C.England Jul 2012 Reports & Research PDF -
Hepatitis C Prevalence and Incidence among Scottish Prisoners and Staff Views of its Management: Final Report
This report aims to generate reliable data on prevalence and incidence of hepatitis C to inform the Scottish Prison Service and the NHS to develop effective needs-led interventions for hepatitis C (HCV) infected prisoners, and to enable an informed assessment of the effectiveness of measures to prevent the spread of blood borne viruses, especially hepatitis C, within the prison setting, as outlined in the Hepatitis C (Phase (II)) Action Plan for Scotland (2008).England, Scotland May 2012 Reports & Research PDF -
Health and Social Care Act 2012
The Health and Social Care Act 2012 aims to safeguard the future of the NHS by modernising it to better tackle the problems of today and avoid crisis tomorrow. It sets out a plan to put clinicians at the centre of commissioning, freeing up providers to innovate, empowering patients and giving a new focus to public health.England 27 Mar 2012 Other PDF -
Guidance on testing for hepatitis B and C (with reference to HIV) Developed by Yorkshire and the Humber Hepatitis B and C Steering Group
Individuals with chronic hepatitis (B and C) can be treated, which reduces the likelihood of chronic illness and premature death. Recognition of infection and treatment may also reduce the spread of infection. In 2010 across Yorkshire and the Humber there were 427 cases of hepatitis B (of which 39 were acute) and 980 newly identified hepatitis C infections reported through NHS/HPA laboratory testing, however HPA estimates calculate that there are over 20,000 people actually infected with hepatitis C in the region.Yorkshire and the Humber Mar 2012 Tools & Templates, Strategy & Planning PDF -
Hepatitis C infection, antiviral treatment and mental health: A European expert consensus statement
This paper reports on the results of a 2011 EASL meeting and subsequent dialogue with patient groups and relevant experts in Europe. It summarises the current knowledge of HCV infection and the brain; prevalence, course, and neurobiology of IFN-a associated psychiatric side effects; possible risk factors for IFN-a associated depression and suicide attempts; psychiatric management of HCV infected patients before and during antiviral treatment; prevention of IFN- a associated psychiatric side effects; and psychiatric aspects of the new antivirals.UK, Rest of World 2012 Reports & Research PDF