2013
Seroprevalence of HIV, hepatitis B virus, and HCV among injection drug users in Connecticut: understanding infection and coinfection risks in a nonurban population.
Akselrod H, Grau LE, Barbour R, Heimer R. Seroprevalence of HIV, hepatitis B virus, and HCV among injection drug users in Connecticut: understanding infection and coinfection risks in a nonurban population. American Journal Of Public Health 2013, 104: 1713-21. PMID: 24134382, PMCID: PMC3990658, DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2013.301357.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsInjection drug usersHepatitis B virusDrug use durationSubstance abuse treatmentB virusRisk factorsCriminal justice involvementDrug usersAbuse treatmentAdult injection drug usersSeroprevalence of HIVInjection drug usePotential risk factorsSignificant predictorsUse durationMultiple viral infectionsEffective harm reduction strategiesHarm reduction strategiesJustice involvementHCV seroprevalenceInjection useInterim analysisViral infectionDrug useSerological testsAssociations Between Injection Risk and Community Disadvantage Among Suburban Injection Drug Users in Southwestern Connecticut, USA
Heimer R, Barbour R, Palacios WR, Nichols LG, Grau LE. Associations Between Injection Risk and Community Disadvantage Among Suburban Injection Drug Users in Southwestern Connecticut, USA. AIDS And Behavior 2013, 18: 452-463. PMID: 23921583, PMCID: PMC3917972, DOI: 10.1007/s10461-013-0572-3.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultConnecticutDrug UsersFemaleHarm ReductionHealth Services AccessibilityHumansInterviews as TopicLongitudinal StudiesMaleNeedle SharingPrevalenceResidence CharacteristicsRisk FactorsSocial EnvironmentSocioeconomic FactorsSubstance Abuse, IntravenousSubstance-Related DisordersSuburban Health ServicesSuburban PopulationYoung AdultConceptsHarm reduction servicesInjection riskReduction servicesAbuse treatmentInjection drug useInjection drug usersRisky injection practicesPoor social supportDisadvantaged census tractsSubstance abuse treatmentDrug abuse treatmentPatterns of heroinRespondent-driven samplingHepatitis BInfluence of residenceSevere depressionOpioid overdosesSerological testingOverdose deathsGeneral populationInjection practicesDrug usersDrug useYounger ageRisk behaviors
2010
Estimates of HIV incidence among drug users in St. Petersburg, Russia: continued growth of a rapidly expanding epidemic
Niccolai LM, Verevochkin SV, Toussova OV, White E, Barbour R, Kozlov AP, Heimer R. Estimates of HIV incidence among drug users in St. Petersburg, Russia: continued growth of a rapidly expanding epidemic. European Journal Of Public Health 2010, 21: 613-619. PMID: 20798184, PMCID: PMC3180633, DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckq115.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsInjection drug usersRetrospective cohort analysisHIV incidenceEnzyme immunoassayHIV epidemicCohort analysisDrug usersBED capture enzyme immunoassayHIV incident casesRecent HIV incidenceHigh HIV incidenceHIV prevention interventionsCross-sectional studyCapture enzyme immunoassayIncident infectionsIncident casesEstimate incidenceIndependent correlatesIncidence rateIncidence estimatesPrevention interventionsCurrent epidemic situationIncidenceVulnerable populationsLow specificity
2009
Hepatitis C virus infection among drug injectors in St Petersburg, Russia: social and molecular epidemiology of an endemic infection
Paintsil E, Verevochkin SV, Dukhovlinova E, Niccolai L, Barbour R, White E, Toussova OV, Alexander L, Kozlov AP, Heimer R. Hepatitis C virus infection among drug injectors in St Petersburg, Russia: social and molecular epidemiology of an endemic infection. Addiction 2009, 104: 1881-1890. PMID: 19712125, PMCID: PMC2763027, DOI: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2009.02687.x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsInjection drug usersHepatitis C virusRespondent-driven samplingPrevalent infectionMajority of IDUsHepatitis C virus infectionSustained virological responseC virus infectionRespondent-driven sampleAssociation of genotypesIDU communityVirological responseHCV infectionAntiviral therapyC virusGenotype 3aDrug injectionVirus infectionDrug injectorsBlood samplesHCV sequencesDrug usersEndemic infectionInfectionMolecular epidemiologyDrug choice, spatial distribution, HIV risk, and HIV prevalence among injection drug users in St. Petersburg, Russia
Kruse GR, Barbour R, Heimer R, Shaboltas AV, Toussova OV, Hoffman IF, Kozlov AP. Drug choice, spatial distribution, HIV risk, and HIV prevalence among injection drug users in St. Petersburg, Russia. Harm Reduction Journal 2009, 6: 22. PMID: 19646255, PMCID: PMC2731096, DOI: 10.1186/1477-7517-6-22.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchHIV risk behaviorsHIV infectionHIV riskDrug usersClean syringesSex-related HIV risk behaviorsRisk behaviorsInjection drug usersDrug use categoriesDrug use groupHIV testingUnsafe injectionsHIV prevalenceSyringe sharingHIV epidemicNeighborhood of residenceConclusionThe typeDrug choicePlace of residenceDrug usePrevention programsYounger ageStudy participantsIntervention impactDifferent drugs
2008
High HIV Prevalence, Suboptimal HIV Testing, and Low Knowledge of HIV-Positive Serostatus Among Injection Drug Users in St. Petersburg, Russia
Niccolai LM, Toussova OV, Verevochkin SV, Barbour R, Heimer R, Kozlov AP. High HIV Prevalence, Suboptimal HIV Testing, and Low Knowledge of HIV-Positive Serostatus Among Injection Drug Users in St. Petersburg, Russia. AIDS And Behavior 2008, 14: 932-941. PMID: 18843531, PMCID: PMC3116648, DOI: 10.1007/s10461-008-9469-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsInjection drug usersHIV-positive serostatusHIV prevalenceHIV testingDrug usersHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevalenceRecent doctor visitHigh HIV prevalenceUnsafe injectionsPositive serostatusDoctor visitsSerostatusHIVPrevalencePoor knowledgeVirus prevalenceLow knowledgeTesting patternsHistory/Adequate coverageCorrelatesInfectionVisitsMonthsSpatial distribution of HIV prevalence and incidence among injection drugs users in St Petersburg: implications for HIV transmission
Heimer R, Barbour R, Shaboltas AV, Hoffman IF, Kozlov AP. Spatial distribution of HIV prevalence and incidence among injection drugs users in St Petersburg: implications for HIV transmission. AIDS 2008, 22: 123-130. PMID: 18090400, PMCID: PMC2778790, DOI: 10.1097/qad.0b013e3282f244ef.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsInjection drug usersDrug usersReceptive syringe sharingRisk behavior dataHIV/AIDS epidemicRisky injection behaviorsSeronegative cohortsSeronegative individualsHeroin injectionHIV prevalenceHIV transmissionIncident casesSyringe sharingHIV epidemicVaccine studiesStudy populationDrug useResidential addressesStudy participantsEpidemiological analysisHIVPrevalenceAIDS epidemicDisease prevalenceCohort