Embedding Infectious Disease Screening In Inpatient SUD Programs Increases Completion Rates For HAV, HBV, LTBI Screenings, Study Finds

HCP Live (8/7, Brooks) reports a new study is “shedding light on the potential benefits of embedding infectious disease (ID) screening within inpatient substance use disorder (SUD) programs, highlighting increases in testing uptake and low-barrier delivery of preventive and therapeutic treatment.” Researchers observed that “ID screening was completed for 60.2% and 90.8% of patients in the usual care and intervention groups, respectively, with the greatest increases in HAV, HBV, and LTBI. The prevalence of any identified treatment or prevention needs significantly increased from 28.7% to 79.3% in the intervention group. Investigators noted HAV and HBV vaccinations increased from 0% to 58% and 71%, respectively.” Further analysis also “revealed screening for STIs increased significantly for gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, and trichomonas in the intervention period.” The study was published in Open Forum Infectious Diseases.