Management of Hepatitis C Viral Infection in People Who Inject Drugs

Hepatitis C viral infection (HCV) has become a curable disease. It is a major cause of liver disease and the most common chronic blood-borne disease in the Western world. In this region, persons who inject drugs (PWID) or who have ever injected drugs are the largest group at risk. With over 3–5 million people chronically infected with the virus, it is self-evident that HCV infection must be regarded as a major threat to public health in the European Union. The WHO has set as an objective to eradicate HCV in 2030. Thus, efforts to reduce the risk of HCV transmission among PWID are urgently advocated. However, more than 80% of the persons at risk are not reached for screening at this moment, and there are important limitations to successful HCV care in PWID. This chapter discusses HCV infection in PWID, with special attention on the barriers to care and how to overcome them.