INJECTION AND SYRINGE SHARING AMONG HIV-INFECTED INJECTION-DRUG USERS- IMPLICATIONS FOR PREVENTION OF HIV TRANSMISSION

Because HIV-infected injection drug users (IDUs) can transmit HIV infe ction, we investigated factors associated with sharing of syringes in the past year among IDUs infected with HIV. We analyzed data from an i nterview survey of 11,757 persons greater than or equal to 18 years of age with HIV or AIDS between June 1990 and August 1995 who were repor ted to 12 state or city health departments in the United States. Of th e 1527 persons who had ever shared syringes and reported injecting in the 5 years before the interview, 786 (51%) had injected in the year b efore interview, and of these, 391 (50%) had shared during that year. IDUs who were aware of their HIV infection for >1 year were less likel y to share (43%) than those who were aware of their infection for 1 ye ar or less (65%, adjusted odds ratio = 2.15, 95% confidence interval, 1.52-3.03). The only statistically significant time trend was that the proportion of IDUs from Connecticut who shared decreased from 71% in 1992 to 29% in 1995. This trend appears to be related to the 1992 chan ges in Connecticut laws that allowed purchase and possession of syring es without a prescription. Because many HIV-infected IDUs continue to inject and share, prevention efforts should be aimed at HIV-infected I DUs to prevent transmission of HIV. Early HIV diagnosis and access to sterile syringes may be important methods for reducing syringe sharing by HIV-infected IDUs.