National HIV Prevention Conference Atlanta, Georgia, USA — August 29- September 1, 1999

Natl HIV Prev Conf 1999 Aug 29-Sep 1:(abstract no. 723)
Ostrow DG
Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Chicago, IL.

The emergence of AIDS/HIV as the first deadly slow virus STD in the early 1980s gained justifiable attention among researchers and public health agencies. Only now, with the development of highly effective antiretroviral treatments, is attention coming back to other sexually transmitted viral infections among men who have sex with men (MSM). Chief among these viral STDs are Hepatitis B and C. HBV is clearly transmitted through sexual behaviors, including oroanal contact, and can be prevented by vaccination. Key barriers to the prevention of sexually transmitted HBV remain, however, and will require widespread educational and vaccination programs aimed at MSM to be overcome. HCV, on the other hand, is an extremely slow virus for which there is no vaccine yet available and MSM have little, if any, awareness of its importance. Data on the homosexual spread of HCV is lacking, posing a major barrier to behavioral prevention programs. Data from the recently completed NJDA- funded AIM Intervention Study with Drug-Using (DU) MSM shows extremely high rates of HBV and HCV infection among DU-MSM, and relatively low rates of utilization of the HE3V vaccine by these high risk men. This data will be presented as will a proposal for a national HBV/HCV education, prevention and HBV vaccination program aimed at DU-MSM through drug abuse treatment facilities.

PRESENTER CONTACT INFORMATION:
Name: David G. Ostrow, M. .D., Ph. D.
Address: Chief of Addiction Medicine
Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine
Loyola University of Chicago Stritch School of Medicine
3150 N. Lakeshore Drive #25D
Chicago, IL 60657
Telephone: (312) 528-1959
E-mail: dostrow@interaccess.com

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National HIV Prevention Conference, 1999. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, August 29- September 1, 1999.

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