Nosocomial transmission of HCV in the liver unit of a tertiary care center

Abstract

Despite its medical and legal implications, there are no prospective studies analyzing the incidence and mechanisms involved in the nosocomial transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in liver units. This study prospectively investigates the nosocomial transmission of HCV in the liver unit of a tertiary care center from August 2000 to October 2002. The median prevalence of HCV infection among hospitalized patients was 50%. Anti-HCVnegative patients admitted to the liver unit during the study period were prospectively followed, and serum markers of HCV infection were repeated 6 months after discharge.

Prevalence of viral hepatitis (B and C) serological markers in healthy working population

“…In our samples, the prevalence of HCV serology was 0.6 %, a significantly lower figure in comparison to previous published studies (8)(9)(10)(11)(13)(14)(15)(16). We think that this figure is more in line with the current prevalence situation and that it has been affected by a rise of mortality from HCV that has been increasing since the 90s and by a fall of acute hepatitis proportion.…”

“…In our study, a statistically significant relation between age and anti-HCV presence was confirmed in accordance to previous studies (12)(13)(14). Positive anti-HCV patients have also shown a liver test and GGT values significantly higher.…”

“…Prevalence was higher in individuals older than 50 years (12). In 2001, two more studies published a prevalence of 2.5 and 1.6 respectively (13,14). More recent studies, only on pregnant women, showed a lower prevalence, although it is a selected population (15)(16)(17).…”

“…In the case of HCV, a previous hospital stay has been shown as a risk factor in some studies (14,24). In one of the epidemiological studies on HCV chronic hepatitis done in Spain was shown that hospital admission, dental procedures and previous surgery were the most frequent risk factors (12).…”

Review article: prevention and management of hepatitis B and C infection in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

“…In the late 1990s, patients with IBD were considered to be at risk of HCV and HBV infection, probably due to previous surgery or blood transfusions. [1][2][3][4][5] Prevalence of HBV infection Some relatively 'old' studies have reported a significantly higher prevalence of HBV infection in IBD patients than in controls. For example, Biancone et al 2 reported that 11% of IBD patients had antibodies to hepatitis B core protein (anti-HBc), a statistically significantly higher figure than in controls.…”