Factors associated with phylogenetic clustering of hepatitis C among people who inject drugs in Baltimore

BMC Infectious Diseases

Carl Latkin¹  Shruti H. Mehta¹  Gregory D. Kirk¹  Oluwaseun Falade-Nwulia²  Jada Hackman²  David Thomas²  Mark Sulkowski²  Stuart C. Ray²  Sean D. McCormick²  Oliver Laeyendecker² 

[1] Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, 21205, Baltimore, MD, USA;Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 21205, Baltimore, MD, USA;

关键词: Hepatitis C;    Molecular epidemiology;    People who inject drugs;    HIV;    Women;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12879-020-05546-x

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundThe availability of effective, oral direct acting antivirals (DAAs) for hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment has put elimination of HCV as a public health challenge within reach. However, little is known about the characteristics of transmission networks of people who inject drugs (PWID).MethodsSequencing of a segment of the HCV genome was performed on samples collected from a community-based cohort of PWID between August 2005 and December 2016. Phylogenetic trees were inferred, and clusters were identified (70% bootstrap threshold; 0.04 maximum genetic distance threshold). We describe sex, race, age difference, and HIV infection status of potential transmission partners. Logistic regression was used to assess factors associated with being in an HCV cluster.ResultsOf 508 HCV genotype 1 viremic PWID, 8% (n = 41) were grouped into 20 clusters, consisting of 19 pairs and 1 triad. In adjusted analyses, female sex (odds ratio [OR] 2.3 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2–4.5]) and HIV infection (OR 5.7 [CI 2.7–11.9]) remained independently associated with being in an HCV infection cluster.ConclusionsMolecular epidemiological analysis reveals that, in this cohort of PWID in Baltimore, HIV infection and female sex were associated with HCV clustering. Combination HCV prevention interventions targeting HIV infected PWID and addressing HCV infection prevention needs of women have potential to advance HCV elimination efforts.

【 授权许可】

CC BY