Sharing of drug preparation equipment as a risk factor for hepatitis C

Objectives. This study investigated the sharing of drug preparation equipment as a possible route of hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission. Methods. HCV seroconversion was measured in a cohort of 317 injection drug users who tested negative for HCV antibody at recruitment. Results. Cumulative HCV incidence was 16.7% per year. Among those who did not share syringes, HCV seroconversion was associated with sharing drug cookers and filtration cotton (adjusted risk ratio=5.9; 95% confidence interval=1.1, 31.7);54% of HCV infections in injection drug users who did not share syringes were attributable to cooker/cotton sharing. Conclusions. Among injection drug users who do not share syringes, an important proportion of HCV infections may be attributed to cooker/cotton sharing.