Recommendations for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of chronic hepatitis B and C in special population groups (migrants, intravenous drug users and prison inmates)

The global spread of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV), their
high chronicity rates and their progression to cirrhosis and hepatocellular
carcinoma, are major public health problems. Research and intervention programmes
for special population groups are needed in order to assess their infection risk
and set up suitable prevention and control strategies. Aim of this paper is to
give health care professionals information on HBV and HCV infections amongst
migrants, drug users and prison inmates. The manuscript is an official Position
Paper on behalf of the following Scientific Societies: Italian Association for
the Study of the Liver (A.I.S.F.), Italian Society of Infectious and Tropical
Diseases (S.I.M.I.T.), Italian Federation Department's Operators and Addiction
Services (FederSerD), Italian Prison Medicine and Healthcare Society
(S.I.M.S.Pe.). The considered population groups, having a high prevalence HBV and
HCV infections, require specific interventions. In this context, the expression
"special population" refers to specific vulnerable groups at risk of social
exclusion, such as migrants, prison inmates, and intravenous drug users. When
dealing with special population groups, social, environmental and clinical
factors should be considered when selecting candidates for therapy as indicated
by national and international guidelines.