Prevalence of chronic hidden infections in a cohort of patients in sustitutive treatment with methadone

BACKGROUND: To analyse prevalence of hidden hepatitis B infection (HBV), he patitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and tuberculosis infection in drug users (DU) in a maintenance programme with methadone (MP M). PATIENTS AND METHOD: 189 DU were tested for HBV, HCV, HIV and tuberculin te st. Drug addition history and route of administration were evaluated, RESULTS: Prevalence of HIV, HCV, and tuberculous infection was 29.2%, 75.9% and 59.3% respectively, Intravenous route. early use of heroin and delay t o enter in MPM were significatively associated with HIV and HCV infections, CONCLUSIONS: There is a high prevalence of tuberculous and HCV infections i n DU, Early access to MPM could decrease prevalence of those infections.