Shapatava Ekaterine, Nelson Kenrad E, Tsertsvadze Tengiz, del Rio Carlos
Georgian Infectious Diseases, AIDS and Clinical Immunology Research Center, Tbilisi, Georgia.
Drug Alcohol Depend. 2006 Apr;82 Suppl 1:S35-8. doi: 10.1016/s0376-8716(06)80006-2.
HIV is an emerging epidemic in Eastern Europe. Most HIV infections in this region have occurred among injection drug users (IDUs) and their sexual partners. The objective of this study was to determine the seroprevalence and risk behaviors for HIV, HBV, and HCV infection among IDUs in Georgia.
Between 2000 and 2001, we studied 583 IDUs aged 18 to 46 years from 3 cities in Georgia. Tbilist, Poti, and Batumi, Structured questionnaires were administered to measure risk behaviors, including IDU, sexual, and other risks. Blood was drawn for HIV hepatitis B (HBV), and hepatitis C (HCV) serologies.
401 (68.8%) participants were seropositive for HCV; 322 (55.2%) for HBV (HBsAg or anti-HBc): and 10 (1.7%) for HIV, Heroin (58.7%) was the most frequently used drug, followed by homemade drugs (31.6%) and opium, (9.8%). In multivariate analysis, risk factors, for HCV and HBV infection included unsafe cleaning practices for injection parapheralia. The number of drug-using partners was associated with HCV infection. Sexual risk factors (i.e., the number of sex partners, paying for sex, and a history of sexually transmitted infections [STIs] were associated with HIV but not with HCV infection. Those injecting homemade drugs and optium most frequently reported risky drug-using behavior.
Our data suggest a high prevalence of HBV and HCV infection among IDUs in Georgia associated with significant drug- and needle-sharing behaviors. HIV seroprevalence appears to be relatively low and is associated with risky sexual behaviors, rather than drug-using behaviors. Further research is needed among Georgian IDUs to develop effective prevention strategies and limit the transmission of HIV in this population.
在东欧，艾滋病病毒（HIV）正成为一种新的流行病。该地区大多数HIV感染发生在注射吸毒者（IDU）及其性伴侣中。本研究的目的是确定格鲁吉亚注射吸毒者中HIV、HBV和HCV感染的血清流行率及风险行为。
在2000年至2001年期间，我们研究了来自格鲁吉亚第比利斯、波季和巴统3个城市的583名年龄在18至46岁的注射吸毒者。采用结构化问卷来测量风险行为，包括注射吸毒、性及其他风险。采集血液进行HIV、乙型肝炎（HBV）和丙型肝炎（HCV）血清学检测。
401名（68.8%）参与者HCV血清学检测呈阳性；322名（55.2%）HBV（乙肝表面抗原或乙肝核心抗体）呈阳性；10名（1.7%）HIV呈阳性。海洛因（58.7%）是最常使用的毒品，其次是自制毒品（31.6%）和鸦片（9.8%）。在多变量分析中，HCV和HBV感染的风险因素包括注射用具不安全的清洁做法。吸毒伙伴的数量与HCV感染有关。性风险因素（即性伴侣数量、性交易、性传播感染[STI]史）与HIV感染有关，但与HCV感染无关。那些最常注射自制毒品和鸦片的人报告了危险的吸毒行为。
我们的数据表明，格鲁吉亚注射吸毒者中HBV和HCV感染率很高，这与大量的毒品和针头共用行为有关。HIV血清流行率似乎相对较低，且与危险性行为有关，而非吸毒行为。需要对格鲁吉亚注射吸毒者进行进一步研究，以制定有效的预防策略并限制该人群中HIV的传播。
