Standardising monitoring data on drug-related infectious diseases among people who inject drugs in Europe – an update of the European Union Drugs Agency technical protocol, 2024

  • Ida Sperle*
  • , Thomas Seyler
  • , Filippo Pericoli
  • , Erika Duffell
  • , Sharon Hutchinson
  • , Marie Jauffret-Roustide
  • , Martin Kåberg
  • , Anda Ķīvīte-Urtāne
  • , Carole Seguin-Devaux
  • , Vana Sypsa
  • , Ruth Zimmermann
  • *Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Drug-related infectious diseases (DRID), such as HIV, hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV), contribute to high morbidity and mortality among people who inject drugs (PWID). The European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) is responsible for monitoring DRID and related behaviours for PWID in Europe. We updated the EUDA DRID technical protocol which cov-ers all steps from planning to data analysis needed for a survey among PWID. Drug-related infectious disease-specific indicators were revised. To enable a more effective monitoring of the current epidemio-logical situation, we added specific core indicators, such as prevalence of viraemic HBV, HCV and HIV care cascades and harm reduction-related indicators. HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis and take-home naloxone were added as optional indicators. The process was informed by a European working group, who shared best-practice examples of (repeated) cross-sectional and cohort surveys using different methods in vari-ous settings. To reach the World Health Organization’s goal of ending HIV and the viral hepatitis epidemics, comprehensive DRID monitoring among the dispropor-tionately affected PWID population is needed.

Original languageEnglish
Article numberpii=2500007
Number of pages9
JournalEurosurveillance
Volume30
Issue number30
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 31 Jul 2025

Keywords

  • Humans
  • Substance Abuse, Intravenous/epidemiology
  • Europe/epidemiology
  • European Union
  • HIV Infections/epidemiology
  • Hepatitis C/epidemiology
  • Hepatitis B/epidemiology
  • Prevalence
  • Population Surveillance/methods
  • Harm Reduction
  • Cross-Sectional Studies

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