Reinfection following direct-acting antiviral therapy for hepatitis C infection among people in prison with recent injecting drug use: the SHARP-P study

Anna Conway; Jason Grebely; Shane Tillakeratne; Evan B Cunningham; Usai Munyengeterwa; Jodi Van Dyk; Marianne Martinello; Joanne Carson; Lise Lafferty; Rowena Bull; Bethany A. Horsburgh; Colette McGrath; Tracey Brown; Carla Treloar; Janaki Amin; Louisa Degenhardt; Tanya L Applegate; Adrian Dunlop; Gail V Matthews; Gregory J Dore; Andrew R Lloyd; Behzad Hajarizadeh

doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2026.105234

Key Points

To investigate the incidence of hepatitis C reinfection among individuals with recent injecting drug use in prison after antiviral therapy.
Observed reinfection cases in prisons with a focus on individuals who recently used drugs.
Analyzed the impact of current prison policies on access to sterile injecting equipment.
Examined recurrent viremia rates to understand reinfection implications.
High incidence of HCV reinfection was documented, primarily among those with recent injecting drug use.
Reinfection was found to be the major cause of recurrent viremia among the studied population.
The findings indicate that current harm reduction measures are insufficient in preventing reinfection.

Implication

Observational study reveals high HCV reinfection rates in prison, suggesting enhanced harm reduction measures are needed.

Abstract

The high HCV reinfection incidence in prisons emphasises the need to enhance prison-based harm reduction measures including access to sterile injecting equipment, currently prohibited in Australian prisons. The finding that reinfection accounts for most recurrent viremia could assist retreatment clinical decision-making in prison.

Discussion

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Cite This Study

Conway et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69c0ddb8fddb9876e79c11b6 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2026.105234

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Reinfection following direct-acting antiviral therapy for hepatitis C infection among people in prison with recent injecting drug use: the SHARP-P study

Key Points

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Reinfection following direct-acting antiviral therapy for hepatitis C infection among people in prison with recent injecting drug use: the SHARP-P study

Key Points

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

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