[The results of sentinel epidemiological surveillance on the level of HIV prevalence among injection narcotic abusers in the city of Poltava]. / Rezul'taty "dozornogo" épidnadzora za urovnem rasprostranennosti VICh sredi in''ektsionnykh potrebitele narkotikov v g. Poltava.

The sentinel epidemiological surveillance on the level of spread of HIV infection among injecting drug users in Poltava, taking part in the program of harm reduction, was carried out. The results of the surveillance revealed that the level of HIV infection among drug users was 37.8%, the level of HIV infection among females being higher than that among males. These data indicate that the level of HIV infection rises with the increase of age and the time of drug consumption. Still in the age group of 30 years and older and among drug addicts using drugs for 7 years and longer the lowest level of HIV infection was noted.

[The epidemic situation in relation to HIV infection in Ukraine (1987-1997)]. / Epidemicheskaia situatsiia po VICh-infektsii na Ukraine (1987-1997).

The analysis of the dynamics of the epidemic process for 10 years made it possible to find out the presence of two separate epidemic waves of HIV infection. The first wave (1987-1994) was manifested as the slow type of the development of the epidemic, characterized mainly by sexual transmission. During this period 398 persons with HIV infection were detected, 24 persons were found to have AIDS; of these, 13 persons died. The second epidemic wave began in 1995 and was due to the spread of HIV among users of drugs introduced by injection. By the end of 1995 the number of HIV carriers was 34 times greater than that of 1994, reaching 1490 persons. In 1996-1997 this figure increased 8 times (annually). The number of AIDS patients rose to 420 persons. The most unfavorable regions with respect to HIV infection and AIDS morbidity were determined. The western regions of the Ukraine were noted to be in a more favorable situation in this respect with infection indices being lower more than 30 times. Up to 80% of all infected persons were found to be addicts introducing drugs intravenously. Growing morbidity in sexually transmitted disease, particularly in syphilis, contributed to the deterioration of the epidemiological situation. The conclusion was made on the necessity of introducing new prophylactic programs and expanding current ones. The signs of stabilization in Odessa and Nikolayev were observed; in these cities pilot programs aimed at the strategy of the "decrease of harm" have been introduced (in collaboration with UNAIDS) since 1996.

[The clinico-epidemiological characteristics of HIV infection and AIDS in Ukraine]. / Kliniko-épidemiologicheskie osobennosti VICh-infektsii i SPIDa na Ukraine.

The summarized results of the observations of 449 hospitalized patients, aged mainly 18-37 years (40 patients with active AIDS, 43 patients with AIDS, other patients were HIV carriers and infected at the stage of lymphadenopathy). In most of the HIV-infected patients the infection process progressed in 3-5 years, which was manifested by associated candidiasis in 74.7% of cases. In AIDS patients opportunistic infections of viral etiology (herpes simplex, cytomegalovirus infection, etc.) prevailed. 14 patients were found to have tuberculosis. Clinico-epidemiological analysis made it possible to come to the conclusion that the specific features of HIV carriership and AIDS were greatly linked with different groups of risk to which the patients belonged. Thus, a shorter period of carriership, the prevalence of opportunistic viral infections were mostly characteristic of drug addicts.