Hepatitis C reinfection ‘low’ after antiviral therapy for injecting drug users
The risk of reinfection after hepatitis C treatment among injecting drug users on opioid agonist therapy is low, underscoring the benefit of GPs facilitating antiviral treatment, Australian researchers say.
In a study of 286 illicit drug users across 13 countries, researchers, led by the Kirby Institute at UNSW Sydney, found only 10 patients were reinfected — most within six months of completing their hepatitis C treatment.
The rate of reinfection was 1.7% and was higher (1.9%) among those with recent injecting drug use, particularly those sharing needles.
Lead author Professor Jason Grebely said, given that the reinfection rate was not high, it was important the risk was “not used as a reason to withhold therapy from people with a history of recent injecting drug use”.
