May 12, 2004
"From 1985 to 2001, 895 heroin DUs were screened, 726 males and 169 females," reported Fabio Lugoboni and colleagues at the University of Verona. "Four hundred and forty-two (49.4 percent) were negative to HBV markers at the first control and 72.4 percent received at least one dose of the vaccine. Three hundred and twenty DUs were vaccinated and a total of 995 doses of recombinant vaccine were administered. The anti-HBc antibody appeared in 2 vaccinated patients out of 258 DUs undergoing controls, while 13 seroconversions for anti-HBc occurred in 45 DUs who had refused to be vaccinated.
"On the basis of these results," the study continued, "HBV vaccination of DUs can be strongly recommended. Vaccination showed a good adherence in a population difficult to treat and can have a leading role in reducing HBV infection in DUs and their contacts."
The report, "Progressive Decrease of Hepatitis B in a Cohort of Drug Users Followed over a Period of 15 Years: The Impact of Anti-HBV Vaccination," appeared in the Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases (2004;36(2);131-133).