BACKGROUND Prisoners represent a vulnerable population for blood-borne and sexually transmitted infections which can potentially lead to liver fibrosis and ultimately cirrhosis. However, little is known about the prevalence of liver fibrosis and associated risk factors among inmates in sub-Saharan Africa. METHODS Screening of liver fibrosis was undertaken in a randomly selected sample of male...

OBJECTIVE To establish the rate of seroprevalence of the hepatitis B surface antigen in pregnant women in south-eastern Mali, and to decrease mother-to-child transmission. METHODS In a descriptive cross-sectional comparison study, 3 659 pregnant women attending a non-governmental hospital in Koutiala, Mali, during 2008 and 2009 were screened for the hepatitis B surface antigen during antenata...

Drug addicts represent a high risk group for acquiring parenterally transmitted viral infections like human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV). It is very likely that an injecting drug user (IDU) infected with HIV will also be infected with HBV and/or HCV because of common high risk behaviours. Amritsar being border city, is a seat of international...

OBJECTIVE The role of sexual transmission in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has not yet been completely elucidated. This study aimed to compare the risk factors for HCV and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in an HIV epidemic area of Thailand where HIV is mainly transmitted heterosexually. DESIGN AND SUBJECTS Sera from 3053 blood donors were collected and tested for HCV and HIV ...

Since their introduction, hepatotoxicity has been associated with the use of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 protease inhibitors (PIs). However, the complexity of the HIV-infected patient and the combinations of medications used to treat HIV complicate the understanding of the independent effects of PIs in the development of drug-induced liver injury (DILI). I discuss the current understan...

Background: Unsafe transfusion practices put patients at high risk of transfusion transmissible infections. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of transfusion transmissible infections (including Human Immunodeficiency Virus [HIV] 1 and 2, Hepatitis B Virus [HBV], Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and syphilis) during a period of 18 months among blood donors in the Blood Bank of Lady Hardinge Medical Coll...

BACKGROUND Liver fibrosis in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals is mostly attributable to co-infection with hepatitis B or C. The impact of other risk factors, including prolonged exposure to combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) is poorly understood. Our aim was to determine the prevalence of liver fibrosis and associated risk factors in HIV-infected individuals based on ...

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a serious public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa. The risk of vertical transmission increases if the mother is hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive and more so when she is also hepatitis B envelope antigen (HBeAg) positive. Since 2000, the World Health Organization recommends screening of pregnant women for HBV infection. However, this is not cu...

Objective: To determine the frequency and risk factors of bloodborne infectious diseases among informal solid waste handlers. Study Design: Cross-sectional Analytical study. Setting: Marghzar Colony, Lahore, Pakistan. Period: October to November 2019. Material & Methods: Convenience enrollment 101 handlers out total 150 invited subjects resulted in a response rate 67.3%. A predesigned profo...

We provide ongoing HIV and Hepatitis B surveillance in residential First Nations alcohol and drug treatment centres in British Columbia, Canada. All clients entering the centres are offered confidential viral testing as part of an education program on sexually transmitted diseases. Participation is voluntary and approximately two thirds of clients choose to be tested. Information about risk fac...