Background/introduction Hepatitis C (HCV) is an important blood-borne virus in the UK with high morbidity/mortality. Injecting drug use has traditionally been seen as the most important risk factor for transmission in Britain, but since 2000 there has been an emergent rise in infection rates amongst HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM). This is thought to be driven by risky sexual/drug taking behaviours.

Aim(s)/objectives Review viral response of acute HCV infections after treatment with current NICE approved therapy.

Methods A prospective case note review was performed of patients diagnosed with acute HCV between 2004–2015.

Results There were 102 acute HCV infections. Median age 37, (range 20–61), all cases were male and MSM. 91 (89%) patients had Genotype 1 infection, and 98 (96%) were co-infected with HIV. 36 (35%) patients had a history of injecting drug use. 20 patients were initiated on pegylated interferon/ribavirin within 6 months of diagnosis.

Discussion/conclusion Only 4 (20%) acute HCV patients achieved simultaneous RVR/SVR within 6 months of diagnosis (PPV = 100%). Novel direct acting antivirals (DAAs) have SVR rates above 90%; this alone is a compelling reason to promote DAAs in managing the burden of HCV infection thus reducing propensity for onward transmission.