This proposal is an epidemiologic study of HTLV-III infection within a population of intravenous drug abusers (IVDAs) in treatment. This study proposes: (1) to calculate the prevalence of antibody to HTLV-III among a population of IVDAS in treatment. (2) to establish the profile of IVDAs in treatment who are at high risk for HTLV-III, (3) to calculate the incidence rate of seroconversion among the IVDAs in treatment, (4) to identify risk behaviors that are associated with IVDAs becoming infected with HTLV-III, and (5) to assess the impact that being screened (seropositive or seronegative) has upon subsequent risk behaviors of IVDAs. This study designed as a prospective cohort investigation of antibody to HTLV-lII among IVDAs in treatment. Within this cohort, a nested case-control study will be conducted, cases being incident HTLV-III seropositive individuals and controls being seronegative IVDAs. There are four phases: 1. a cohort of IVDAs who are in a drug treatment program will be enrolled, screened for antibody to HTLV- III, and interviewed about relevant risk factors. These data will be analyzed to determine the prevalence of antibody to HTLV-III and to develop a profile of high risk IVDAs who test seronegative at baseline will be entered into phase 2 repeat testing for seroconversion will be performed every 6 months (for a period up to 3 years) to determine the proportion who become seropositive, as well as to identify individuals for the case-control study. In phase 3, each IVDA who becomes seropositive after the initial screen will be entered into a case control study designed to identify risk factors for HTLV-III positivity. As seroincident cases are identified, seronegative controls will be selected and interviewed (blindly). Standard epidemiologic procedures will be employed to analyze these data. Phase 4 is a follow-up of 150 individuals who were seroprevalent at baseline and 150 seronegative IVDAs to determine how knowledge of being screened positive while in treatment changes drug use and other behavior after IvDAs leave treatment.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01DA004433-01
Application #
3210064
Study Section
Drug Abuse Epidemiology and Prevention Research Review Committee (DAPA)
Project Start
1987-04-01
Project End
1989-06-30
Budget Start
1987-04-01
Budget End
1988-03-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
1987
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Miami School of Medicine
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
City
Miami
State
FL
Country
United States
Zip Code
33101
Shah, S M; Shapshak, P; Rivers, J E et al. (1996) Detection of HIV-1 DNA in needle/syringes, paraphernalia, and washes from shooting galleries in Miami: a preliminary laboratory report. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr Hum Retrovirol 11:301-6
McCoy, C B; Shapshak, P; Metsch, L R et al. (1995) HIV-1 prevention: interdisciplinary studies on the efficacy of bleach and development of prevention protocols. Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz) 43:1-9
Chitwood, D D; Griffin, D K; Comerford, M et al. (1995) Risk factors for HIV-1 seroconversion among injection drug users: a case-control study. Am J Public Health 85:1538-42
McElrath, K; Chitwood, D D; Griffin, D K et al. (1994) The consistency of self-reported HIV risk behavior among injection drug users. Am J Public Health 84:1965-70
Shapshak, P; McCoy, C B; Shah, S M et al. (1994) Preliminary laboratory studies of inactivation of HIV-1 in needles and syringes containing infected blood using undiluted household bleach. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 7:754-9
McCoy, C B; Rivers, J E; McCoy, H V et al. (1994) Compliance to bleach disinfection protocols among injecting drug users in Miami. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 7:773-6
Shapshak, P; McCoy, C B; Rivers, J E et al. (1993) Inactivation of human immunodeficiency virus-1 at short time intervals using undiluted bleach. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 6:218-9
Chitwood, D D; Page, J B; Comerford, M et al. (1991) The donation and sale of blood by intravenous drug users. Am J Public Health 81:631-3
Chitwood, D D; McCoy, C B; Inciardi, J A et al. (1990) HIV seropositivity of needles from shooting galleries in south Florida. Am J Public Health 80:150-2