HEPATITIS C RATES FALL IN SCOTLAND
The prevalence of hepatitis C among people who inject drugs (PWID) has fallen sharply in Scotland, according to a new report from Public Health England.
T
he annual ‘Shooting Up’ report on infections and injecting behaviour states that around one in five PWID in Scotland
has Hepatitis C (HCV).
The report also states that chronic HCV infection prevalence in Scotland fell from 39 per cent in 2015-2016 and 31 per cent in 2017-2018 to 19 per cent in 2019-2020.
In Scotland, 70 per cent of people aware of their infection had accepted treatment in the latest survey period, up from 28 per cent in 2015-2016 and 50 per cent in 2017-2018.
Among the report’s key findings are:
HIV levels continue to be low, but some missed opportunities remain The report found that HIV infections and outbreaks continue to occur among PWID. While most of those with HIV are aware of their infection and uptake of treatment and care for HIV among those diagnosed is high, gaps nevertheless remain. The report recommends that testing for HIV is offered regularly to all those at risk and that care pathways for those with HIV are optimised and maintained.
HBV remains rare, but vaccine uptake needs to be sustained Despite the fact that hepatitis B (HBV) vaccination is recommended as a high priority for all PWID, around a quarter of them have never been vaccinated. The report’s authors recommend that, even though HBV infection among this group is currently rare, it is essential that high vaccination levels are maintained in line with guidance, particularly in younger age groups of PWID, to keep high levels of population immunity, and that strategies for improving vaccine uptake should be developed.
Chronic HCV prevalence has continued to decline, however rates of new infection are unchanged Despite the fact that an increase in testing among PWID in line with HCV elimination activities was observed in 2019, nevertheless, the high proportion of individuals who report they have not been tested recently indicates there is scope for improvement. As such, the report recommends that diagnostic testing services and care and treatment pathways for those infected should be optimised to meet the needs of PWID.
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scottishpharmacist.com
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