BACKGROUND It is unclear whether knowing of current HIV status is associated with change in injecting behaviors among people who inject drugs (PWID) in Iran. The objective of the present study was to determine whether awareness of HIV positive status is associated with a reduction in injecting risk behaviors, after matching for socio-demographic characteristics. METHODS Five hundred male PWID...

BACKGROUND Pharmacists' role in harm reduction is expanding in many states, yet there are limited data on pharmacists' willingness to participate in harm reduction activities. This study assessed community pharmacists' willingness to participate in one harm reduction initiative: syringe/needle exchange. METHODS In 2015, all Kentucky pharmacists with active licenses were emailed a survey that ...

BACKGROUND Pharmacies are an important source of sterile syringes for people who inject drugs (PWID) in Tajikistan who are under high risk of HIV and hepatitis C virus. Accessibility of sterile syringes at pharmacies without prescription may depend on pharmacists' attitudes towards PWID. This qualitative inquiry examines meanings and processes of stigmatization of PWID among pharmacists and pha...

We study the leakage of air in syringes with Teflon coated rubber stopper and glass barrel. The leakrate depends on interfacial surface roughness, viscoelastic properties elastoplastic coating. measured rates are compared to predictions a simple theory for gas flow, which takes into account both diffusive ballistic multiscale contact mechanics determines probability distribution separations. sh...

OBJECTIVE To investigate and compare seven types of injection devices for their risks of iatrogenic transmission of bloodborne pathogens and their economic costs in sub-Saharan Africa. METHODS Risk assumptions for each device and cost models were constructed to estimate the number of new hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections resulting from patient-to-patien...