Biomedical subjects

G E Bath

Publications and source records attributed to G E Bath.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1997

Acute hepatitis B in Edinburgh 1975-92: a retrospective study in a population where human immunodeficiency virus is highly prevalent.

A retrospective study of notified hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in Edinburgh during 1975-92 identified 525 acute cases. For 343 where a probable transmission route could be determined, 215 were due to shared equipment by injection drug users (IDUs), 29 to homosexual intercourse, 25 to heterosexual or household contact with IDUs, 21 to heterosexual contact with infected non-IDU partners and 53 to various other or multiple routes. Cases were unevenly distributed geographically, particularly those among IDUs. The highest incidence within a post code district was approximately 2.5 times that for all Edinburgh. Annual cases peaked in 1984 then declined to low levels in the early 1990s. This reduction was most marked among IDUs, and may be ascribed both to changed injecting behaviour and decreased susceptibility within this group. The latter factor implies that HBV infections may be an unreliable guide to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in populations where HBV is highly prevalent.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

HIV in injecting drug users in Edinburgh: prevalence and correlates.

A citywide sample of injecting drug users (IDUs) who had injected in the previous 6 months was recruited in Edinburgh. Interviewers administered a questionnaire enquiring about drug use, sharing of injecting equipment, sexual behavior, and imprisonment. A specimen of saliva was assayed for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) IgG. HIV antibody prevalence in 346 IDUs recruited between June 1992 and October 1993 was 19.7% (95% confidence limits, 15.5 and 23.9%). Univariate analyses indicated that infection was significantly associated with being 27 to 36 years of age, starting to inject between 1975 and 1980, injecting in 1980-1987 and, particularly, 1982-1984, injecting in more than 7 years since 1979, reusing injecting equipment already used by another IDU in 1980-1987, being imprisoned, using equipment used by a fellow prisoner, and residing in north Edinburgh. Multivariate analysis showed that being 27-36 years of age, injecting in 1982-1984, and being imprisoned were independently related to being HIV positive. The risk of being infected increased with the number of times of imprisonment. A quarter of the sample said that they had used injecting equipment already used by another person in the 6 months before interview, and 70% said that they had ever done so. Of IDUs who started injecting after 1986, 4.5% were HIV positive. These findings suggest that the potential for HIV transmission by contaminated equipment still exists in Edinburgh. This is particularly so in prison, where IDUs do not have access to new needles and syringes.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1993