Adopting More Systematic Approaches to Hepatitis C Treatment in Correctional Facilities
Authors: Theodore M. Hammett
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2003)

Editorials4 February 2003Adopting More Systematic Approaches to Hepatitis C Treatment in Correctional FacilitiesTheodore M. Hammett, PhDTheodore M. Hammett, PhDFrom Abt Associates, Inc.; Cambridge, MA 02138-1168Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-138-3-200302040-00021 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the most common bloodborne virus in the United States: Approximately 2% of the adult population is infected with HCV. Although incidence of HCV infection has declined since the late 1980s, most infections remain undiagnosed and screening continues to increase. Diagnosed cases are expected to increase fourfold between 1990 and 2015 (1).The prevalence of HCV infection is particularly high in injection drug users (72% to 86%) and, among all racial/ethnic groups, is highest in African Americans (6%) (1, 2). These subpopulations are over-represented among correctional inmates; thus, it is not surprising that a disproportionate burden ...References1. National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Conference Statement. Management of Hepatitis C: 2002. Washington, DC: National Institutes of Health; 2002. Accessed at consensus.nih.gov/cons/116/Hepc091202.pdf on 11 October 2002. Google Scholar2. Recommendations for prevention and control of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and HCV-related chronic disease. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. MMWR Recomm Rep. 1998 Oct 16; 47(RR-19):1-39. [PMID: 9790221] Google Scholar3. Hammett TM, Harmon MP, Rhodes W. The burden of infectious disease among inmates of and releases from US correctional facilities, 1997. Am J Public Health. 2002;92:1789-94. [PMID: 12406810] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Allen SA, Spaulding AC, Osei AM, Taylor LE, Cabral AM, Rich JD. Treatment of chronic hepatitis C in a state correctional facility. Ann Intern Med. 2003;138:187-90. LinkGoogle Scholar5. Hammett TM. Making the case for health interventions in correctional facilities. J Urban Health. 2001;78:236-40. [PMID: 11419577] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. Prevention and control of infections with hepatitis viruses in correctional settings. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. MMWR Recomm Rep. [In press]. Google Scholar7. Macalino GE, Rich JD, Sanford-Colby S, Salas CM, Vlahov D. Intake prevalence and intraprison incidence of HIV, hepatitis B (HBV), and hepatitis C (HCV) among sentenced inmates in Rhode Island, USA. [Poster abstract WePeC6139.] XIV International AIDS Conference, Barcelona, Spain, 10 July 2002. Google Scholar8. Beck AJ, Karberg JC, Harrison PM. Prison and Jail Inmates at Mid-Year 2001 NCJ 191702. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics; 2002. Google Scholar9. Spaulding A, Greene C, Davidson K, Schneidermann M, Rich J. Hepatitis C in state correctional facilities. Prev Med. 1999;28:92-100. [PMID: 9973592] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar10. Rhode Island Department of Corrections. FY 2001 expenditures by function. Accessed at www.doc.state.ri.us/pdf/fy2001_expenditures_summary.pdf on 18 December 2002. Google Scholar11. Levin J, Bick J, Stubblefield B. Recommendations for those on the frontline against hepatitis C. HEPP Report. 2002; 5:1-6. Accessed at www.hivcorrections.org on 11 October 2002. Google Scholar12. Falck-Ytter Y, Kale H, Mullen KD, Sarbah SA, Sorescu L, McCullough AJ. Surprisingly small effect of antiviral treatment in patients with hepatitis C. Ann Intern Med. 2002;136:288-92. [PMID: 11848726] LinkGoogle Scholar13. Koretz RL. Hepatitis Cthe case against treatment. Eur J Surg Suppl. 2001;586:34-9. [PMID: 11718523] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar14. National Hepatitis C Prison Coalition. Summaries of state correctional systems' hepatitis C policies. Accessed at www.hcvinprison.org on 10 October 2002. Google Scholar15. Fazlollah M, Lin J. New Jersey prisons fail to treat an epidemic; with no care, hepatitis C costs more to society. Philadelphia Inquirer. 21 July 2002: A1. Accessed at www.philly.com/mld/inquirer on 11 October 2002. Google Scholar16. Fazlollah M, Lin J. Finally, N.J. informs all inmates of hepatitis C. Philadelphia Inquirer. 6 October 2002: A1. Accessed at www.philly.com/mld/inquirer on 11 October 2002. Google Scholar17. Fazlollah M. Former inmate sues over lack of hepatitis C care: an infected N.J. man is suing the corrections department, saying he was told of his disease only days before his release. Philadelphia Inquirer. 18 October 2002:B1. Accessed at www.philly.com/mld/inquirer on 20 October 2002. Google Scholar18. De Groot AS. HCV: the correctional conundrum. HEPP Report. 2001; 4:1. Accessed at www.hivcorrections.org on 11 October 2002. Google Scholar19. Pfister JR. Recommendations for prevention and control of viral hepatitis in correctional settings. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Consultants meeting, Atlanta, Georgia; 5-7 March 2001. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From Abt Associates, Inc.; Cambridge, MA 02138-1168Corresponding Author: Theodore M. Hammett, PhD, Abt Associates, Inc., 55 Wheeler Street, Cambridge, MA 02138-1168; e-mail, [email protected]com. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoTreatment of Chronic Hepatitis C in a State Correctional Facility Scott A. Allen , Anne C. Spaulding , Albert M. Osei , Lynn E. Taylor , Asya M. Cabral , and Josiah D. Rich Metrics Cited byPrinciples to Guide National Data Collection on the Health of Persons in the Criminal Justice SystemA Budget Impact Analysis of Newly Available Hepatitis C Therapeutics and the Financial Burden on a State Correctional SystemTreating hepatitis C in the prison population is cost-savingClinical Outcomes of Hepatitis C Treatment in a Prison Setting: Feasibility and Effectiveness for Challenging Treatment PopulationsA Golden OpportunityHepatitis C in correctional institutionsIntroductionRecomendaciones de expertos sobre el diagnóstico y tratamiento de la hepatitis C crónica en el medio penitenciarioRecomendaciones de expertos sobre el diagnóstico y tratamiento de la hepatitis C crónica en el medio penitenciarioHIV/AIDS, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, and Incarceration Among Women: National and Southern PerspectivesHIV/AIDS and Other Infectious Diseases Among Correctional Inmates: Transmission, Burden, and an Appropriate ResponseA Missed Opportunity: Hepatitis C Screening of PrisonersHepatitis C Service Delivery in Prisons: Peer Education From the "Guys in Blue"Treatment of hepatitis CManagement of hepatitis C virus in special populations: Patient and treatment considerationsHepatitis C treatment in a Canadian federal correctional population: Preliminary feasibility and outcomesHepatitis C virus infection in United States correctional institutionsTreatment of Chronic Hepatitis C Virus in the Virginia Department of Corrections: Can Compliance Overcome Racial Differences to Response? 4 February 2003Volume 138, Issue 3Page: 235-236KeywordsAfrican American peopleAntiviralsDrug abuseDrug therapyHealth careHepatitis C virusLiver diseasesPrevention, policy, and public healthSubstance abuseTreatment guidelines ePublished: 4 February 2003 Issue Published: 4 February 2003 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2003 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...