Prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus among French prison inmates in 2010: a challenge for public health policy

We evaluated prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) among prison inmates in France in 2010, in a cross-sectional single-day study based on a two-stage design. Sampling favoured larger establishments and included all types of prisons. Establishments were stratified by geographical region. Estimates were adjusted by post-stratification of the total population of inmates in France. From 60,975 inmates in all 188 prisons on the sampling day, 2,154 were selected from 27 prisons, and 1,876 questionnaires completed. HIV prevalence was estimated at 2.0% (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.9–4.2), 2.6% (95% CI: 0.7–8.8) in women and 2.0% (95% CI: 0.9–4.3) in men; 75% of inmates were receiving treatment for HIV. HCV prevalence was estimated at 4.8% (95% CI: 3.5–6.5) and was higher for women (11.8%; 95% CI: 8.5–16.1) than men (4.5%; 95% CI: 3.3–6.3). Almost half of HCV-infected inmates had chronic hepatitis C and 44% were receiving or had received treatment. HIV and HCV prevalence was six times higher than in the general population, and 2.5% of inmates had viraemic hepatitis C. The moment of incarceration provides an ideal opportunity for testing and treating, limiting spread of HCV and improving patients' prognosis.

Severe hospitalised 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) cases in France, 1 July-15 November 2009

From 1 July 2009 to 15 November 2009, 244 patients with 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) were admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) and were compared with 514 cases hospitalised in medical wards in France until 2 November 2009. Detailed case-based epidemiological information and outcomes were gathered for all hospitalised cases. Infants and pregnant women are overrepresented among cases admitted to ICU with seven per cent for both groups respectively, and twenty per cent of ICU cases did not belong to a risk group. Chronic respiratory disease was the most common risk factor among cases but obesity (body mass index >or= 30 Kg/m(2)), chronic cardiac disease and immunosuppression were risk factors associated with severe illness after adjustment for age and for other co-morbidities.