Human immunodeficiency virus infection in intravenous drug users: a model for primary care

Intravenous drug users (IVDUs) often encounter barriers to primary care. To improve access, we developed a primary care clinic--Central Medical Unit (CMU)--for substance abusers in drug treatment. We report outcomes for services offered to IVDUs with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.

During 1990, 24% (120 of 509) of IVDUs eligible for CMU were HIV positive. Diagnostic therapeutic and preventive goals for IVDUs with HIV infection were evaluated for acceptance and compliance by chart review for these 120 patients.

On admission, 65% (78 of 120) of patients reported having no source of primary care, 64% (77 of 120) were male, and 77% (92 of 120) were in methadone maintenance. All were screened for tuberculosis, syphilis, and hepatitis; 94% (15 of 16) of eligible patients accepted tuberculosis prophylaxis and 83% (5 of 6) accepted syphilis treatment, but only 36% (5 of 14) accepted hepatitis B vaccine. Of those who accepted therapy, 87% (13 of 15) were compliant with tuberculosis prophylaxis, and 100% (5 of 5) were compliant with syphilis treatment. Influenza vaccine was accepted by 49% (59 of 120) and pneumococcal vaccine by 81% (97 of 120). Ninety-eight percent (118 of 120) accepted T-cell testing: 61% had T-helper counts less than 500/mm3 and 25% were less than 200/mm3. Of those eligible, 89% (70 of 79) accepted antiretroviral therapy, and 100% (35 of 35) accepted Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia prophylaxis. Six-month compliance rates for these therapies were 84% (59 of 70) and 77% (27 of 35), respectively.

By offering primary care services with drug treatment, the CMU model may be an effective way of providing access to primary care for HIV-infected IVDUs and for facilitating compliance.