Oral

Although hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States, it has been characterized as a silent epidemic. To raise awareness, the session will provide the most current information about the epidemiology of HCV infection, highlight HCV screening efforts, and describe population groups most affected. The session also will report results of a field evaluation of rapid HCV antibody tests and explore program integration efforts for HCV screening at the local level. Lastly, the session will reference the Institute of Medicine (IOM) Report, issued January 2010, titled, “Hepatitis and Liver Cancer: A National Strategy for Prevention and Control of Hepatitis B and C.” Morbidity and mortality from HCV infection rivals infections such as HIV, but receives much less attention in terms of prevention and control than many other diseases. An estimated 17,000 persons are newly infected with HCV each year. Even more significant are the estimated 3.2 million U.S. residents living with chronic HCV infection, the leading cause of liver disease and liver cancer. More than one in 30 persons born from 1945-1964 are chronically infected and rates of HCV infection are higher among racial and ethnic minorities and those who are less advantaged economically, representing important health disparities. CDC estimates that injection drug use accounted for 48% of acute cases of HCV infection in the United States in 2009, and previous studies have found up to 70-80% prevalence among persons who inject drugs. HCV screening for this population is therefore critical. However, until recently no rapid point-of-care tests were available. Studies have found that persons who inject drugs compared to non-drug using populations respond as well to standard of care HCV treatment and should be provided the same opportunity. Thus rapid screening tests could have a positive health benefit (e.g., linkage to counseling and care) for persons who inject drugs by informing them of their HCV antibody status and eliminating the need to return later for results. Moreover, by expanding opportunities for rapid screening through integration of health services, an ever greater benefit for persons at increased risk could be realized.

Session Objectives: 1. Participants will be able to describe the epidemiology of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in the United States. 2. Participants will be able to identify the risk of HCV infection among persons who inject drugs. 3. Participants will be able to identify screening efforts for HCV infection in the United States, evaluate the use of newly developed rapid HCV antibody screening tests, and assess local HCV screening through program integration efforts.

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH)