Investigation of Endemic and Emerging Diseases in Populations of Homeless Households in Marseille.

In Marseilles, the population of homeless is estimated at 1500 individuals, including 800 usually sleeping in the street, 600 in foster homes and a hundred in the structures of care. The precarious living conditions of homeless persons promote the emergence or re-emergence of many communicable infectious diseases homeless people whose symptoms are often overlooked by the subject and rarely established etiologic diagnosis.

Among these diseases, frequently described in the literature are infestation by lice and infectious diseases that they transmit (Bartonella quintana), skin infections, hepatitis E and C and finally the infection with Tropheryma Whipplei. In this study we propose to systematically in homeless subject an etiological diagnosis of pathogens at the origin of these diseases (i) to improve knowledge (ii) to improve their management, (iii) to limit the contagion.

Inclusion criteria

• Homeless Subject on the day of the study in one of two shelters for homeless Marseille ( Madrague City and Forbin )
• Major subject ( > or equal to 18 years)
• Freely about having signed the written informed consent,
• About affiliated with a social security scheme

Exclusion criteria

• Minor Subjects ( < 18 years )
• Major subject under guardianship (L. 1121-8 )
• Subject privated of freedom or under court order (L. 1121-6 )
• Subject refusing to sign the informed consent form ,
• Subject not affiliated with a social security insurance
• Pregnant women , parturient or nursing (L. 1121-7 ) .