Pavarin Raimondo Maria, Badia Lorenzo, Nisi Sebastiano, Iormetti Claudia, Caputo Fabio
Open Group Impresa Sociale Bologna, Italy.
Infectious Diseases Unit, Azienda USL di Imola, Imola, Italy.
Infez Med. 2024 Sep 1;32(3):373-380. doi: 10.53854/liim-3203-12. eCollection 2024.
Our aim was to estimate the prevalence of HCV in a highly vulnerable population of substance users living with social difficulties and marginality who came into contact with the mobile harm reduction service in the city of Bologna (Northern Italy). Testing was offered in a van (mobile unit) by using a point-of-care HCV antibody test. For the HCV RNA test, the Xpert HCV Viral Load Fingerstick Test was used. Participants with a detectable HCV RNA were accompanied within two weeks to the Infectious Diseases Department Sant' Orsola Hospital Bologna to start HCV treatment. With regard to the main study findings, 54% reported having never been HCV tested before; a prevalence of HCV RNA of 6% among all participants and 22% among those injecting drugs was found; among the HCV RNA positive participants, 80% were accompanied to treatment. Our study suggests that mobile harm reduction services, in networks with healthcare facilities, are able to offer a continuous HCV screening service and linkage to care for people with drug use living in socially marginalized conditions.
我们的目标是估计在意大利北部博洛尼亚市接触流动减少伤害服务的、生活面临社会困难且处于边缘地位的高风险吸毒人群中丙型肝炎病毒（HCV）的流行情况。检测在一辆厢式货车（移动单元）中通过即时检测HCV抗体检测进行。对于HCV RNA检测，使用了Xpert HCV病毒载量指尖检测。HCV RNA检测呈阳性的参与者在两周内被陪同前往博洛尼亚圣奥索拉医院传染病科开始HCV治疗。关于主要研究结果，54%的人报告此前从未接受过HCV检测；在所有参与者中HCV RNA的流行率为6%，在注射毒品者中为22%；在HCV RNA呈阳性的参与者中，80%的人被陪同接受治疗。我们的研究表明，在与医疗机构建立网络的情况下，流动减少伤害服务能够为生活在社会边缘化环境中的吸毒者提供持续的HCV筛查服务并实现护理衔接。
