Detecting HCV infection by means of mass population SARS-CoV-2 screening: A pilot experience in Northern Italy

Abstract

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Hepatitis C screening during SARS‐CoV‐2 testing or vaccination. Experience in an area of southern Italy in the province of Salerno

“…Another aspect to consider is that the prevalence of HCV‐Ab positivity was found to be lower compared to that reported in the Italian general population (~2%, with a higher prevalence in southern regions compared to northern ones based on historical data). 7 , 9 This could be partly explained by data reporting that in Italy the prevalence of HCV infection increases with age (a peak of 7% of HCV‐Ab positive people was documented in the 1935–1944 age group), 10 and as the elders represented a minority of the people involved in our project, probably because they had already been vaccinated for SARS‐CoV‐2 at the time this project took place. On the other hand, we cannot exclude that those results may be also partially influenced by a ‘selection bias’, being those with mistrust in the health system ‘self‐selecting’ themselves out of the screening by not performing it.…”

“… 3 , 4 Among the efforts to counter this scenario, it was proposed to exploit the current pandemic to enhance hepatitis C screening. 5 The first experiences of combined HCV/SARS‐CoV‐2 testing have already been carried out, 6 , 7 while although it was proposed, 8 there are still no data on the combination of screening for hepatitis C and SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccination. For these reasons, we started a screening program for hepatitis C simultaneously with the SARS‐CoV‐2 testing or vaccination.…”

Elimination of Hepatitis C in Southern Italy: A Model of HCV Screening and Linkage to Care among Hospitalized Patients at Different Hospital Divisions

“…Several barriers, the most important one being the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, have not allowed the full implementation of this program of HCV screening [ 11 , 12 ]. However, to overcome multiple obstacles, a variety of strategies were applied in Italy during the COVID-19 pandemic [ 13 , 14 ]. This study was conducted on patients consecutively admitted to a large referral hospital in Naples, Italy, to evaluate the feasibility of a hospital HCV-opportunistic-screening during the period of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions (January 2020–May 2021).…”

Hepatitis C diagnosis slowdown in high-prevalence groups and using decentralised diagnostic strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…It has been proposed to incorporate different diagnostic options into care circuits during the pandemic, along with measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 (19). In this regard, HCV screening has been promoted in conjunction with COVID-19 diagnostic tests or with routine vaccination (20), such as the experience published in Italy by Giacomelli A. et al, in patients over 50 years of age with a participation rate close to 50% (21); or even considering a more simplified circuit using the DBS for joint screening (22). Additionally, given the least impact achieved at the hospital as opposed to the primary level during the pandemic, promoting diagnosis at the primary care level should be considered (23,24).…”