• New York State Department of Health. Aspects of primary care for the HIV-infected substance user. New York (NY): New York State Department of Health; 2004. 17 p. [36 references]

This is the current release of the guideline.

The quality of evidence (I-III) is defined at the end of the "Major Recommendations" field.

Viral Hepatitis

• All human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patients should be tested at baseline for evidence of hepatic injury. (II)

  Key Points:

  • Substance users are at high risk for infection with hepatitis viruses A, B, and C (HAV, HBV, and HCV).
  • Infection among substance users may initiate and amplify hepatitis outbreaks.

Hepatitis A Virus (HAV)

• Clinicians should offer HIV-infected substance users who do not have antibody evidence of previous exposure (i.e., who are susceptible to hepatitis A) the hepatitis A vaccine. (II) The full series should be given (initial dose and a second dose six to twelve months later) to ensure maximal antibody response.
• Routine post-vaccination antibody measurement is not recommended because of the generally high efficacy of the vaccine. (II)

  Key Point:

  • Clinicians should periodically readdress vaccination with individuals who initially decline either hepatitis A or hepatitis B vaccination.

Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)

• Clinicians should offer the hepatitis B vaccine to HIV-infected substance users who have been identified by serology to be susceptible to hepatitis B. (II)
• Clinicians should strongly encourage all HIV-infected patients who do not have serologic evidence of prior HBV infection, or who have not previously received the complete series of HBV vaccine, to receive the hepatitis B vaccination series. Serologic testing for anti-HBs one to two months after the third dose should be performed. If the patient did not respond to the vaccine series, the clinician should administer a second series when the patient's CD4 count is >200 cells/mm³.(III)
• HIV-infected substance users who continue to inject drugs should receive counseling regarding the risk of HBV infection from non-sterile injection practices. These patients should be referred to sources of sterile injection equipment (such as syringe exchange programs and pharmacy sales). (II)
• Clinicians should evaluate HIV-infected substance users chronically infected with hepatitis B (or co-infected with hepatitis B and C) for liver disease. These patients should be evaluated and offered treatment when medically indicated according to current guidelines. (I)
• Clinicians should inform and advise HIV-infected substance users chronically infected with hepatitis B (or co-infected with hepatitis B and C) that sharing injection equipment and engaging in unprotected sex place their partners at risk for transmission of both HIV and viral hepatitis. (II)
• Clinicians should advise HIV-infected substance users chronically infected with hepatitis B that drug-sharing, sexual, and household contacts may be at risk for hepatitis B. Such contacts should be advised to undergo medical evaluations and, if susceptible, should be offered HBV vaccination. (II)
• The drug regimen of choice is currently unknown because no randomized comparative trials have been conducted in this patient population. Options include tenofovir, emtricitabine, interferon alfa-2b, lamivudine, or adefovir; there are insufficient data to recommend combinations of drugs at this time. If lamivudine is given for treatment of hepatitis B, it should never be used alone but in combination with other HIV-active antiretroviral agents as a component of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).

  Key Point:

  • HBV vaccination is indicated for all HIV-infected substance users who are susceptible and may be particularly important for those co-infected with HCV.

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)

• Clinicians should perform annual HCV screening to detect recent infections for HIV-infected substance users who do not have antibody evidence of previous exposure (i.e., who are found to be susceptible to HCV) and who continue to engage in risk behaviors. (III)
• HIV-infected substance users who continue to inject substances and who are found to be susceptible to hepatitis C should receive counseling regarding the risk of HCV infection from non-sterile injection practices. These patients should be referred to sources of sterile injection equipment (such as syringe exchange programs and pharmacy sales). (II)
• Clinicians should evaluate HIV-infected substance users chronically infected with hepatitis C (or co-infected with hepatitis B and C) for liver disease. These patients should be evaluated and offered treatment when medically indicated according to current guidelines. (I)
• HIV-infected substance users chronically infected with hepatitis C (or co-infected with hepatitis B and C) should be counseled to avoid sharing injection equipment or engaging in unprotected sex because their partners will then be at risk for transmission of both HIV and viral hepatitis. (II)
• Substance-sharing contacts should be advised to undergo medical evaluations. (II) As part of this medical evaluation, all contacts should be offered testing for HIV and hepatitis C.
• Clinicians should advise HIV/HCV co-infected patients and patients infected with HCV alone to discontinue consumption of alcohol.

  Key Point:

  • HCV seems to be more easily transmitted parenterally than HIV.

Prevention

Table: Viral Hepatitis Risk Reduction Guidance for Substance Users

• Stop using illicit drugs – substance users who wish to stop using drugs should be referred to substance abuse treatment when indicated.
• If unable to stop using illicit drugs, substance users should stop injection of illicit drugs.
• If unable to stop injection of illicit drugs, substance users should use a new, sterile needle for every injection.
• Substance users should use their own needle, syringe, filtration cotton, and cooker, without sharing with others.
• If assisting others with injections, the substance user should wash hands thoroughly between injections and use all new equipment.
• Substance users should know their own HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C status, should not engage in unprotected sex, and should be advised to avoid sharing injection equipment.

Effect of Substance Use and Abuse Treatment on HCV Disease Progression and Treatment

Key Point:

• Clinicians should be guided by patients' symptoms (e.g., opioid craving or oversedation) when considering whether a change in methadone or buprenorphine dose is indicated.

Treatment and Adherence

Key Point:

• Adherence to the HCV treatment regimen is difficult for all patients, not just substance users or those with HIV.

Tuberculosis (TB)

• Clinicians should perform a purified protein derivative (PPD) tuberculin skin test at baseline for HIV-infected substance users. (II)
• Clinicians should evaluate HIV-infected substance users who have a reactive tuberculin skin test and should obtain a chest radiograph to exclude active tuberculosis. (I)
• HIV-infected substance users with active tuberculosis should receive expedited treatment (I), and strong consideration should be given to directly observed therapy (DOT). (II)
• Clinicians should evaluate HIV-infected substance users who have latent TB infection, and, in the absence of medical contraindications or previous completion of preventive therapy, these patients should be offered treatment for latent TB infection. (I)
• To identify recent infections, clinicians should obtain annual PPD tuberculin skin tests in HIV-infected substance users whose skin test results were negative for tuberculosis at baseline. (II)

  Key Points:

  • Rifampin may increase the catabolism of opioids and can precipitate opioid withdrawal in opioid users or those on methadone maintenance regimens unless methadone doses are increased.
  • Co-locating TB services may improve adherence and rates of treatment completion

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) in HIV-Infected Substance Users

• Clinicians should reinforce behavioral risk-reduction measures for STD prevention, including consistent condom use.

  Key Point:

  • Primary care clinicians play an important role in reinforcing behavioral risk-reduction measures.

Screening for STDs in HIV-Infected Substance Users

• Clinicians should screen HIV-infected substance users for syphilis.
• Clinicians should screen female HIV-infected substance users annually for cervical gonorrhea and chlamydia.

Soft-Tissue Disorders

• Clinicians should counsel intravenous drug users (IDUs) on risk reduction for soft-tissue infections (see Tables 3 and 4 in the original guideline document).

Overdose

• Clinicians should counsel substance-using patients about the risk of overdose and how it may be prevented.

Heroin and Other Opioids

Key Point:

• Methadone maintenance has been demonstrated to be an effective preventative measure for overdose.

Definitions

Quality of Evidence

1. At least one randomized trial with clinical results
2. Clinical trials with laboratory results
3. Expert opinion

None provided

The type of supporting evidence is classified for selected recommendations (see "Major Recommendations").

• New York State Department of Health. Aspects of primary care for the HIV-infected substance user. New York (NY): New York State Department of Health; 2004. 17 p. [36 references]

Not applicable: The guideline was not adapted from another source.

2004

New York State Department of Health - State/Local Government Agency [U.S.]

New York State Department of Health

Substance Use Committee

Committee Chair: Marc N. Gourevitch, MD, MPH, Director, Division of General Internal Medicine, New York University School of Medicine

Committee Members: Bruce Agins, MD, MPH, Medical Director, AIDS Institute, New York State Department of Health; Julia H. Arnsten, MD, MPH, Associate Professor Medicine, Epidemiology and Population Health, and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center; Steven L. Batki, MD, Director, Addiction Psychiatry Clinic, Crouse Chemical Dependency Treatment Services, Interim Associate Chief of Staff for Research, Syracuse VA Medical Center, Professor and Director of Research, Department of Psychiatry, SUNY Upstate Medical University; Lawrence S. Brown, Jr., MD, MPH, Clinical Associate Professor of Public Health, Weill Medical College, Cornell University, President, American Society of Addiction Medicine, Senior Vice President, Division of Medical Services, Evaluation and Research, Addiction Research and Treatment Corporation; Brenda Chabon, PhD, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine; Barbara Chaffee, MD, MPH, Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine, Upstate Medical Center Clinical Campus at Binghamton, Binghamton, New York, Medical Director, Internal Medicine, Binghamton Family Care Center, United Health Services Hospitals; Steven Kipnis, MD, FACP, FASAM, Medical Director, New York State Office of Alcoholism & Substance Abuse Services; Nancy Murphy, NP, HIV Primary Care Provider, Center for Comprehensive Care, Room 14A36, St Luke's Roosevelt Hospital Center; David C. Perlman, MD, Chief, Infectious Diseases, Beth Israel Medical Center – Singer Division, Professor of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Director, AIDS Inpatient Unit, Beth Israel Medical Center; Benny Primm, MD, Executive Director, Division of Medical Services, Evaluation and Research, Addiction Research and Treatment Corporation; Sharon Stancliff, MD, Medical Director, Harlem East Life Plan, Medical Consultant, NYSDOH, AIDS Institute; Robert Whitney, MD, Erie County Medical Center

AIDS Institute: Diane Rudnick, Director, Substance Abuse Section, New York State Department of Health

Not stated

This is the current release of the guideline.

None available

This NGC summary was completed by ECRI on February 2, 2005.