[Rapid spread of HIV infections among narcotic addicts].

In the Institute of Venereology, 5351 patients (75.1% of males, 24.9% females), intravenous drug users (IVDU), have been tested for the presence of HIV antibodies in the period from Jan 1986 to Dec 31 1989. They were patients of detoxication wards and/or pensioners of drug treatment centers. HIV antibodies were determined by the EIA method (Abbott Recombinant HIV-1 EIA test), and positive results were confirmed by the western-blot technique. HIV antibodies were found in 292 patients: 228 males (78.1%) and 64 females (21.9%), which accounts for 5.5% of tested IVDU. In 1986-1987 all tests were negative, although the first HIV infection was confirmed in 1985 in homosexual group. The first positive HIV test in drug addicts was detected in Aug 1988 after testing of 2254 patients. In 1989 276 sera were positive for HIV antibodies (11.2%) among 2471 patients studied. Our study indicates that HIV infection is spreading rapidly in IVDU population. Infections of drug addicts with HIV represent 66% of total detected cases of HIV antibody-positive individuals in Poland; among 30 diagnosed AIDS cases 5 were drug users.