부산대학교 도서관

In Tunisia, with the introduction of interferon-free direct acting antivirals and outstanding progresses in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, the elimination of HCV infection seems more achievable today. A further challenge is continued transmission of HCV infection in high-risk population especially injecting drug users (IDUs) as the major reservoir of HCV infection. Considering the fact that most of these infections remain undiagnosed, HCV infected IDUs are potential sources for the rapid spread of HCV in the community. The knowledge of the distribution of hepatitis C genotypes constitutes an essential element in the diagnosis of HCV infection and a key component of therapeutic decision, as well as to guide in establishing the most appropriate modalities for the therapeutic management of positive hepatitis C especially for IDUs and to improve the design of effective national plans for the control of hepatitis C. In this context, the Tunisian association for information and orientation on HIV/AIDS and Toxicomania (ATIOST) formulated a pilot project which was selected by the Pasteur Institute's science shop call for project to respond to the needs of civil society. The project aimed to identify the genetic diversity of HCV within IDU's in collaboration with the laboratory of Clinical Virology of IPT by determining the genotypic profiles of the detected strains and comparing them with strains detected in the general population. The project will also allow to study the performance of rapid HCV tests compared to standard ELISA tests and to determine the viral replication rate in HCV-seropositive IDUs subjects. Injecting drug users participating in ATIOST's needle and syringe program will be included in this study. Data will be collected through semi-directive interviews. The questionnaire treats sociodemographic information, associated risk behaviors. The data collected will be useful for better management of infected patients and for more effective preventive measures with a specific focus on high-risk population, accessibility to the new anti-HCV treatment regimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]