Monitoring HIV-1 infection prevalence among intravenous drug users in Vienna 1986–1990

A standardised method to monitor HIV-1 infection levels and trends among injecting drug users (IDUs) was periodically administered at the drug addiction outpatient ward of the Psychiatric University Clinic of Vienna. A total of 715 injecting drug users were examined. HIV-1 antibodies were found in 8.5% of the IDUs in 1985/86, 14.5% in 1986/87, 27.7% in 1988, 29.7% in 1989 and 26.9% in 1990. Sharing was extensive in infected IDUs. After introduction of methadone maintenance in Austria more than 50% of the IDUs were receiving methadone and, in 1990, 88% of the infected IDUs were treated with methadone.