Hepatitis C and B testing in English prisons is low but increasing

[Guest guest]

http://jpubhealth.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2011/02/23/pubmed.fdr011.abst\

ract

J Public Health (2011)

doi: 10.1093/pubmed/fdr011

First published online: February 23, 2011

Hepatitis C and B testing in English prisons is low but increasing

Kirwan, Prison Infection Prevention Team Scientific Co-ordinator, Barry

, Consultant Epidemiologist, the Sentinel Surveillance of Hepatitis Testing

Study Group? and Brant, Sentinel Surveillance of Hepatitis Testing Study

Co-ordinator

+ Author Affiliations

Health Protection Agency Centre for Infections, London, UK

Address correspondence to Brant, E-mail: lisa.brant@...

Abstract

Background Prisons are important settings for blood-borne virus control because

of the high prevalence of hepatitis C and B viral infections (HCV and HBV), and

behaviours associated with transmission among prisoners.

Methods Data from sentinel laboratories in England were used to identify testing

for hepatitis C (anti-HCV) and hepatitis B [hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)

and anti-hepatitis B core antigen (HBc)] among male and female prisoners between

2005 and 2008.

Results Between 2005 and 2008, 10 723 prisoners from 39 prisons in England were

tested for anti-HCV, anti-HBc and/or HBsAg. Overall, 24.2% prisoners tested

positive for anti-HCV. Anti-HCV testing increased 47% over 4 years (P < 0.001),

whilst the proportion testing positive decreased significantly from 26% in 2005

to 23% in 2008 (÷2= 10.0, df = 3, P = 0.030). In total, 13.9% people tested

positive for anti-HBc. Of 5151 people tested for anti-HBc, 4433 were also tested

for HBsAg; of these 2.4% were HBsAg positive. HBsAg testing increased 35%

between 2005 and 2008, with no significant change in the proportion testing

positive. Between 2005 and 2008, 2.4% (CI: 2.32-2.43%) of the prison population

(24 prisons) were estimated to have been tested for anti-HCV.

Conclusions Although hepatitis testing has increased, only a small proportion of

the prison population were tested. More testing is required to identify infected

prisoners and refer them for appropriate treatment.

[Guest guest]

http://jpubhealth.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2011/02/23/pubmed.fdr011.abst\

ract

J Public Health (2011)

doi: 10.1093/pubmed/fdr011

First published online: February 23, 2011

Hepatitis C and B testing in English prisons is low but increasing

Kirwan, Prison Infection Prevention Team Scientific Co-ordinator, Barry

, Consultant Epidemiologist, the Sentinel Surveillance of Hepatitis Testing

Study Group? and Brant, Sentinel Surveillance of Hepatitis Testing Study

Co-ordinator

+ Author Affiliations

Health Protection Agency Centre for Infections, London, UK

Address correspondence to Brant, E-mail: lisa.brant@...

Abstract

Background Prisons are important settings for blood-borne virus control because

of the high prevalence of hepatitis C and B viral infections (HCV and HBV), and

behaviours associated with transmission among prisoners.

Methods Data from sentinel laboratories in England were used to identify testing

for hepatitis C (anti-HCV) and hepatitis B [hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)

and anti-hepatitis B core antigen (HBc)] among male and female prisoners between

2005 and 2008.

Results Between 2005 and 2008, 10 723 prisoners from 39 prisons in England were

tested for anti-HCV, anti-HBc and/or HBsAg. Overall, 24.2% prisoners tested

positive for anti-HCV. Anti-HCV testing increased 47% over 4 years (P < 0.001),

whilst the proportion testing positive decreased significantly from 26% in 2005

to 23% in 2008 (÷2= 10.0, df = 3, P = 0.030). In total, 13.9% people tested

positive for anti-HBc. Of 5151 people tested for anti-HBc, 4433 were also tested

for HBsAg; of these 2.4% were HBsAg positive. HBsAg testing increased 35%

between 2005 and 2008, with no significant change in the proportion testing

positive. Between 2005 and 2008, 2.4% (CI: 2.32-2.43%) of the prison population

(24 prisons) were estimated to have been tested for anti-HCV.

Conclusions Although hepatitis testing has increased, only a small proportion of

the prison population were tested. More testing is required to identify infected

prisoners and refer them for appropriate treatment.

[Guest guest]

http://jpubhealth.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2011/02/23/pubmed.fdr011.abst\

ract

J Public Health (2011)

doi: 10.1093/pubmed/fdr011

First published online: February 23, 2011

Hepatitis C and B testing in English prisons is low but increasing

Kirwan, Prison Infection Prevention Team Scientific Co-ordinator, Barry

, Consultant Epidemiologist, the Sentinel Surveillance of Hepatitis Testing

Study Group? and Brant, Sentinel Surveillance of Hepatitis Testing Study

Co-ordinator

+ Author Affiliations

Health Protection Agency Centre for Infections, London, UK

Address correspondence to Brant, E-mail: lisa.brant@...

Abstract

Background Prisons are important settings for blood-borne virus control because

of the high prevalence of hepatitis C and B viral infections (HCV and HBV), and

behaviours associated with transmission among prisoners.

Methods Data from sentinel laboratories in England were used to identify testing

for hepatitis C (anti-HCV) and hepatitis B [hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)

and anti-hepatitis B core antigen (HBc)] among male and female prisoners between

2005 and 2008.

Results Between 2005 and 2008, 10 723 prisoners from 39 prisons in England were

tested for anti-HCV, anti-HBc and/or HBsAg. Overall, 24.2% prisoners tested

positive for anti-HCV. Anti-HCV testing increased 47% over 4 years (P < 0.001),

whilst the proportion testing positive decreased significantly from 26% in 2005

to 23% in 2008 (÷2= 10.0, df = 3, P = 0.030). In total, 13.9% people tested

positive for anti-HBc. Of 5151 people tested for anti-HBc, 4433 were also tested

for HBsAg; of these 2.4% were HBsAg positive. HBsAg testing increased 35%

between 2005 and 2008, with no significant change in the proportion testing

positive. Between 2005 and 2008, 2.4% (CI: 2.32-2.43%) of the prison population

(24 prisons) were estimated to have been tested for anti-HCV.

Conclusions Although hepatitis testing has increased, only a small proportion of

the prison population were tested. More testing is required to identify infected

prisoners and refer them for appropriate treatment.

[Guest guest]

http://jpubhealth.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2011/02/23/pubmed.fdr011.abst\

ract

J Public Health (2011)

doi: 10.1093/pubmed/fdr011

First published online: February 23, 2011

Hepatitis C and B testing in English prisons is low but increasing

Kirwan, Prison Infection Prevention Team Scientific Co-ordinator, Barry

, Consultant Epidemiologist, the Sentinel Surveillance of Hepatitis Testing

Study Group? and Brant, Sentinel Surveillance of Hepatitis Testing Study

Co-ordinator

+ Author Affiliations

Health Protection Agency Centre for Infections, London, UK

Address correspondence to Brant, E-mail: lisa.brant@...

Abstract

Background Prisons are important settings for blood-borne virus control because

of the high prevalence of hepatitis C and B viral infections (HCV and HBV), and

behaviours associated with transmission among prisoners.

Methods Data from sentinel laboratories in England were used to identify testing

for hepatitis C (anti-HCV) and hepatitis B [hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)

and anti-hepatitis B core antigen (HBc)] among male and female prisoners between

2005 and 2008.

Results Between 2005 and 2008, 10 723 prisoners from 39 prisons in England were

tested for anti-HCV, anti-HBc and/or HBsAg. Overall, 24.2% prisoners tested

positive for anti-HCV. Anti-HCV testing increased 47% over 4 years (P < 0.001),

whilst the proportion testing positive decreased significantly from 26% in 2005

to 23% in 2008 (÷2= 10.0, df = 3, P = 0.030). In total, 13.9% people tested

positive for anti-HBc. Of 5151 people tested for anti-HBc, 4433 were also tested

for HBsAg; of these 2.4% were HBsAg positive. HBsAg testing increased 35%

between 2005 and 2008, with no significant change in the proportion testing

positive. Between 2005 and 2008, 2.4% (CI: 2.32-2.43%) of the prison population

(24 prisons) were estimated to have been tested for anti-HCV.

Conclusions Although hepatitis testing has increased, only a small proportion of

the prison population were tested. More testing is required to identify infected

prisoners and refer them for appropriate treatment.