Update: syringe exchange programs--United States, 1998

Syringe exchange programs (SEPs) provide sterile syringes in exchange for used syringes to reduce the transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other bloodborne infections associated with the reuse of potentially blood-contaminatedsyringes among injection drug users (IDUs) (1). This report summarizes a survey of 1998 SEP activities in the United States and compares them with 1994-1997 SEP activity surveys (1-3). SEPs are an increasingly common HIV prevention approach that offer a range of public health services in addition to syringe exchange.