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Database ID	660
Title	IDUs' social networks and hepatitis C
Description	In working to reduce the incidence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) among IDUs, it is important to consider the social networks that IDUs inhabit. Social networks represent conduits of influence and conduits of infection. We are investigating the effect of IDUs' social networks on HCV epidemiology; we expect that network data will greatly increase our ability to explain patterns of HCV infection. After ten months of close observation of IDUs in one of Melbourne's major drug scenes, we recruited participants between September 2001 and August 2002. Index (seed) cases described members of their injecting network and referred or introduced them to us for interview and blood sampling; the process was repeated with their network members in turn, creating a complex map of IDU relationships. Molecular epidemiology techniques allowed us to identify related HCV infections. We interviewed 199 IDUs and obtained unequivocal test results for 196. 172 (87.8%) were HCV-antibody-positive; 144 antibody-positive samples contained evidence of ongoing HCV infection (viral RNA). Some important results have been obtained, including the identification of IDUs who remain HCV antibody and RNA-negative despite years of risky behaviour with infectious injecting partners. Analysis of molecular and network data continues as we attempt to build on the study's results through collaborations with leading immunologists and virologists (see Networks II).
Status	Archived
Researchers	Campbell Aitken Peter Higgs Michael Kerger Jenny Kelsall Nick Crofts Oanh Nguyen
Collaborating researchers	Scott Bowden Rhonda McCaw David Moore Darren Jardine
Keywords	hepatitis C ; iv drug use; social networks;
Institution	Burnet Institute
Collaborating institutions	Deakin University Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory National Serology Reference Laboratory, Australia
Funding institutions	National Health and Medical Research Council
Start Date	07-2000
End Date	06-2003
Publications	Aitken, CK ; McCaw, R ; Jardine, D ; Bowden, S ; Higgs, P ; Nguyen, O ; Crofts, N ; Hellard, M (2004), Change in hepatitis C virus genotype in injecting drug users, Journal of Medical Virology, vol. 74, pp. 543-45. Aitken, CK ; McCaw, RF ; Bowden, DS ; Tracy, SL ; Kelsall, JG ; Higgs, PG ; Kerger, MJ ; Nguyen, H ; Crofts, JN (2004), Molecular epidemiology of hepatitis C virus in a social network of injection drug users, Journal of Infectious Diseases, vol. 190, pp. 1586-95. Bowden, S ; McCaw, R ; White, P ; Crofts, N ; Aitken, CK (in press), Detection of multiple hepatitis C virus genotypes in a cohort of injecting drug users, Journal of Viral Hepatitis. Aitken, CK ; Bowden, S ; Hellard, M ; Crofts, N (2004), Indications of immune protection from hepatitis C infection, Journal of Urban Health, vol. 81, pp. 58-60. Aitken, C ; Moore, D ; Higgs, P ; Kelsall, J ; Kerger, M (2002), The impact of a police crackdown on a street drug scene: evidence from the street, International Journal of Drug Policy, vol. 13, pp. 193-202. Aitken, C & Higgs, P (2002), Severe vein damage caused by Temezepam injecting, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, vol. 26, pp. 79.
Contact	Name  Campbell Aitken Phone  (03) 9282.2114
Indexed	Illicit drugs -> IV drug use (127) Demographic and social issues -> Urban population (72) Epidemiology, consumption and prevalence (315) Health and medical -> Body systems & diseases -> Communicable diseases -> Hepatitis -> Hepatitis C (87) Health and medical -> Body systems & diseases -> Liver -> Hepatitis -> Hepatitis C (87) Health and medical -> Body systems & diseases -> Immune system (11) Health and medical -> Genetics (15) Law and crime -> Police (91) Prevention -> Testing and detection (69) Geographic regions -> Pacific area -> New Zealand (45)

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