Outbreak of Recent HIV and HCV Infections among Persons Who Inject Drugs

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The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are investigating a large outbreak of recent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections among persons who inject drugs (PWID). Many of the HIV-infected individuals in this outbreak are co-infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). The purpose of this HAN Advisory is to alert public health departments and healthcare providers of the possibility of HIV outbreaks among PWID and to provide guidance to assist in the identification and prevention of such outbreaks.

Background

From November 2014 to January 2015, ISDH identified 11 new HIV infections in a rural southeastern county where fewer than 5 infections have been identified annually in the past. As of April 21, 2015, an on-going investigation by ISDH with assistance from CDC has identified 135 persons with newly diagnosed HIV infections in a community of 4,200 people; 84% were also HCV infected. Among 112 persons interviewed thus far, 108 (96%) injected drugs; all reported dissolving and injecting tablets of the prescription-type opioid oxymorphone (OPANA® ER) using shared drug preparation and injection equipment.1

This HIV outbreak was first recognized by a local disease intervention specialist. In late 2014, interviews conducted with three persons newly diagnosed with HIV infections in three separate venues (i.e., an outpatient clinic, a drug rehabilitation program, during a hospitalization) indicated that two of these persons had recently injected drugs and had numerous syringe-sharing and sexual partners. Contact tracing identified eight additional HIV infections leading to the current outbreak investigation, which has demonstrated that HIV had spread recently and rapidly through the local network of PWID. Without an attentive health department, active case finding, and additional testing provided as part of this investigation, this cluster may not have been identified.

Urgent action is needed to prevent further HIV and HCV transmission in this area and to investigate and control any similar outbreaks in other communities.

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Injection drug use accounts for an estimated 8% of the approximate 50,000 annual new HIV infections in the United States. HCV infection is the most common blood-borne infection in the United States and percutaneous exposure via drug-injecting equipment contaminated with HCV-infected blood is the most frequent mode of transmission. Nationally, acute HCV infections have increased 150% from 2010 to 2013, and over 70% of long-term PWID may be infected with HCV. Abuse of prescription-type opioids is increasing nationally and opioid-analgesic poisoning deaths have nearly quadrupled from 1999 through 2011. Rates of acute HCV infection are increasing, especially among young nonurban PWID, often in association with abuse of injected prescription-type opioids. These increases have been most substantial in nonurban counties east of the Mississippi River.

Recommendations for Health Departments

  • Review the most recent sources of data on HIV diagnoses, HCV diagnoses (acute as well as past or present), overdose deaths, admissions for drug treatment, and drug arrests. Attributes of communities at risk for unrecognized clusters of HIV and HCV infection include the following:

Recent increases in the:

    • Number of HIV infections attributed to injection drug use,
    • Number of HCV infections, particularly among persons aged < 35 years;

High rates of injection drug use and especially prescription-type opioid abuse, drug-related overdose, drug treatment admission, or drug arrests.

  • Ensure complete contact tracing for all new HIV diagnoses and testing of all contacts for HIV and HCV infection.
  • Ensure persons actively injecting drugs or at high-risk of drug injection (e.g., participating in drug substitution programs, receiving substance abuse counseling or treatment, recently or currently incarcerated) have access to integrated prevention services,9 and specifically:
    • Are tested regularly for HIV and HCV infection (consider more frequent testing based on frequency of injection drug usage or sharing of injection equipment);
    • If diagnosed with HIV or HCV infection:
      • Are rapidly linked to care and treatment services;
    • If actively injecting drugs:
      • Have access to medication-assisted therapy (e.g., opioid substitution therapy) as well as other substance abuse services, if not already engaged,
      • Are counseled not to share needles and syringes or drug preparation equipment (e.g., cookers, water, filters),
      • Have access to sterile injection equipment from a reliable source.
    • If not HIV infected but actively injecting drugs:
      • Are referred for consideration of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis10 and if potentially exposed within the past 72 hours (e.g., shared drug preparation or injection equipment with a known or potentially HIV-infected person) HIV post-exposure prophylaxis11,12
  • Remind venues that may encounter unrecognized infections, such as emergency departments and community-based clinical practices (e.g., family medicine, general medicine, prenatal care) of the importance of routine opt-out HIV testing as well as HCV testing per current recommendations13-15
  • Local health departments should notify their state health department and CDC of any suspected clusters of recent HIV or HCV infection.

Recommendations for Healthcare Providers

  • Ensure all persons diagnosed with HCV infection are tested for HIV infection,16 and that all persons diagnosed with HIV infection are tested for HCV infection.17
  • Ensure persons receiving treatment for HIV and/or HCV infection adhere to prescribed therapy and are engaged in ongoing care.
  • Encourage HIV and HCV testing of syringe-sharing and sexual partners of persons diagnosed with either infection.
  • Report all newly diagnosed HIV and HCV infections to the health department.
  • For all persons with substance abuse problems:
    • Refer them for medication-assisted treatment (e.g., opioid substitution therapy) and counseling services,
    • Use effective treatments (e.g., methadone, buprenorphine), as appropriately indicated.
  • For any persons for whom opioids are under consideration for pain management:
    • Discuss the risks and benefits of all pain treatment options, including ones that do not involve prescription analgesics.
    • Note that long-term opioid therapy is not associated with reduced chronic pain.18
  • Contact the state or local health department to report suspected clusters of recent HIV or HCV infection.

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