Hepatitis C Prevalence Among HIV-Positive MSM in San Francisco: 2004 and 2008

In Brief Recent reports suggest the potential for an epidemic of Hepatitis C among nonintravenous drug-using HIV-positive men who have sex with men. HIV-positive specimens from surveillance surveys in 2004 and 2008 were tested for HCV antibodies. Among noninjection drug using men who have sex with men, HCV prevalence was 8.7% and 4.5% in 2004 and 2008, respectively. There was no evidence of a change in HCV prevalence between 2004 and 2008. Recent reports from Europe and New York suggest the potential for an epidemic of Hepatitis C among HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM) who are not intravenous drug users. HIV-positive specimens from behavioral surveillance surveys in 2004 (n = 92) and 2008 (n = 115) were tested for HCV antibodies and linked to injection drug use (IDU) and HCV diagnosis history. HCV antibodies were detected among 15.2% of HIV-positive MSM in 2004 and 8.3% of MSM in 2008. Among non-IDU MSM, HCV prevalence was 8.7% and 4.5% in 2004 and 2008, respectively. Most cases had been previously diagnosed, in 2004 (71.7%) and 2008 (94.0%). There was no evidence of a change in HCV prevalence between 2004 and 2008. HCV infection among HIV-positive MSM remains moderate-to-low among non-IDU MSM in San Francisco.