An HIV prevalence study by means of sentinel epidemiological surveillance among injection narcotic abusers in Saint Petersburg

• Published in: Žurnal mikrobiologii, ėpidemiologii i immunobiologii no. 4; p. 31
• Main Authors: Smol'skaia, T T, Khodakevich, L N, Kobyshcha, Iu V, Pimenov, A S, Ostrovskiĭ, D V, Shilova, E A, Suvorova, S V, Kotova, S V, Terent'eva, Zh V, Volkova, G V, Makarenko, G A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Russian
• Published: Russia (Federation) 01.07.2000
• Subjects: Adult; Chronic Disease; Female; HIV Antibodies - blood; HIV Seroprevalence; Humans; Male; Needle-Exchange Programs; Opioid-Related Disorders - epidemiology; Opioid-Related Disorders - immunology; Russia - epidemiology; Sentinel Surveillance; Substance Abuse, Intravenous - epidemiology; Substance Abuse, Intravenous - immunology; Urban Population - statistics & numerical data; Russia
• ISSN: 0372-9311

The data on the study of the spread of HIV infection among injecting drug users in St. Petersburg, carried out by the method of the random testing of blood remaining in used syringes, are presented. Injecting drug users visiting buses working in accordance with the program "Buses for Assistance to Drug Addicts" were chosen as a study group. The exchange of syringes was one of the elements of this program. The work was carried out in two areas with a high concentration of drug users. The eluates from syringes used by 300 persons were studied. The average rate of the spread of HIV in the cohort under study was 12%. The results were indicative of a high degree of the spread of HIV among injecting drug users in St. Petersburg. Epidemiological patrol surveillance proved to be an effective method for the evaluation of the epidemiological situation in a highly inaccessible group of the population.