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Abstract #153176

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Don C. Des Jarlais, PhD¹, Kamyar Arasteh, PhD¹, Holly Hagan, PhD², Courtney McKnight, MPH¹, and Samuel R. Friedman, PhD³. (1) Baron Edmond de Rothschild Chemical Dependency Institute, Beth Israel Medical Center, 160 Water Street - 24th Floor, New York, NY 10038, 212.256.2548, dcdesjarla@aol.com, (2) Center for Drug Use & HIV Research, National Development & Research Institutes, 71 West 23rd Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10010, (3) National Development and Research Institutes, Inc, 71 West 23d Street, 8th floor, New York, NY 10010

Objective: To examine the relationship between herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2) seroprevalence and HIV seroprevalence among non-injecting heroin and cocaine users in New York City. HSV-2 infection increases both the likelihood of the acquisition and the transmission of HIV. Methods: 462 non-injecting cocaine and heroin users were recruited from a drug detoxification program in New York City. Smoking crack cocaine, intranasal use of heroin and intranasal use of cocaine were the most common types of drug use. A structured interview was administered and a serum sample was collected for HIV and HSV testing. Results: HIV prevalence was 19% and HSV-2 seroprevalence was 60%. The adjusted odds ratio for the association between HSV-2 and HIV was 2.01 (95% CI 1.15 to 3.53). The relationship between HSV-2 and HIV was particularly strong among females, among whom 86% were HSV-2 seropositive, 23% were HIV seropositive, and all HIV seropositives were also HSV-2 seropositive. Conclusions: HSV-2 appears to be an important factor in sexual transmission of HIV among non-injecting cocaine and heroin users in New York City, especially among females. The estimated population attributable risk for HIV infection attributable to HSV-2 infection in this sample was 38%. Programs to manage HSV-2 infection should be developed as part of comprehensive HIV prevention for non-injecting drug users.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the relationships between HSV-2 infection and HIV transmission.
• Understand the population attributable risk percentage for HSV-1 infection to HIV incidence among non-injecting drug users in New York City.
• Know possible interventions to reduct HSV-2 related HIV transmission.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Infectious Diseases

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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