Abstracts of the 2023 Annual Meeting of the ALEH
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Introduction and ObjectivesHepatitis C infection has a high prevalence in social rehabilitation centers and prissions; however, patient migration, lack of adherence monitoring and risk practices are determinants for abandoning treatment. Objectives: Determine the seroprevalence in patients deprived of their liberty in social rehabilitation centers for chronic hepatitis C infection, as well as evaluate the effectiveness of daily provision of antivirals in patients who are deprived of their liberty.
Patients / Materials and MethodsInformation was collected through the national hepatitis C elimination program database in patients screened for HIV infection, syphilis and hepatitis C during the period 2021-2024 in Baja California Sur, Mexico. Mass screening tests were performed with serological antigen and PCR for hepatitis C. Those patients with a positive viral load were treated with direct-acting antivirals for 2 months and a viral load was performed to verify sustained viral response. During this period, medical teams supplied the drug in a controlled manner provided by the health services in prisons. To keep the rehabilitation centers free of hepatitis C, serologies were implemented under informed consent for newly admitted people that were admitted.
Results and Discussion3452 rapid tests were performed, of which 77 tests (2.23%) were reactive with positive viral load in 76 cases (98.07%), all patients were male (100%), with an average age of 42.1 years. Of the patients studied, the main risk factor was intravenous drug use (98%). Viral loads were measured 3 months after treatment where 98.68% had virological cure, 1.3% migrated from a social rehabilitation center and 0% presented virological failure.
ConclusionsThe intervention of health services continuously and jointly with the penal system is a determining factor in achieving virological cure and rehabilitation centers free of hepatitis C.
