BACKGROUND/AIMS: Isolated cases of acute hepatitis C, as well as hepatitis C outbreaks transmitted by health-care related procedures, have drawn attention to nosocomial transmission of HCV. The aim of this study was to investigate the current relevance of nosocomial HCV infection. METHODS: For this purpose, we performed a retrospective epidemiological analysis of all cases of acute hepatitis C diagnosed in 18 Spanish hospitals. Between 1998 and 2005, 109 cases were documented. RESULTS: The most relevant risk factors registered during the 6-month period preceding the diagnosis of acute hepatitis C were: hospital admission in 73 (67%) cases, intravenous drug use in 9 (8%), accidental needlestick injury in 7 (6%) and sexual contact in 6 (5%). Among the 73 patients in whom hospital admission was the only risk factor, 33 underwent surgery and 24 were admitted to a medical emergency unit or a medical ward; the remaining 16 patients underwent an invasive diagnostic or therapeutic procedure. Sixty two patients underwent antiviral therapy and 51 (82%) achieved a sustained virological response. In 47 patients treatment was not indicated (in 24 due to spontaneous resolution of HCV infection). CONCLUSIONS: In most patients with acute hepatitis C the only documented risk factor associated with the infection is hospital admission. These results stress the need for strict adherence to universal precaution measures. Fortunately, most cases of acute hepatitis C either resolve spontaneously or after antiviral therapy.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Isolated cases of acute hepatitis C, as well as hepatitis C outbreaks transmitted by health-care related procedures, have drawn attention to nosocomial transmission of HCV. The aim of this study was to investigate the current relevance of nosocomial HCV infection. METHODS: For this purpose, we performed a retrospective epidemiological analysis of all cases of acute hepatitis C diagnosed in 18 Spanish hospitals. Between 1998 and 2005, 109 cases were documented. RESULTS: The most relevant risk factors registered during the 6-month period preceding the diagnosis of acute hepatitis C were: hospital admission in 73 (67%) cases, intravenous drug use in 9 (8%), accidental needlestick injury in 7 (6%) and sexual contact in 6 (5%). Among the 73 patients in whom hospital admission was the only risk factor, 33 underwent surgery and 24 were admitted to a medical emergency unit or a medical ward; the remaining 16 patients underwent an invasive diagnostic or therapeutic procedure. Sixty two patients underwent antiviral therapy and 51 (82%) achieved a sustained virological response. In 47 patients treatment was not indicated (in 24 due to spontaneous resolution of HCV infection). CONCLUSIONS: In most patients with acute hepatitis C the only documented risk factor associated with the infection is hospital admission. These results stress the need for strict adherence to universal precaution measures. Fortunately, most cases of acute hepatitis C either resolve spontaneously or after antiviral therapy.
Authors: Solveig Tenckhoff; Thorsten Kaiser; Fritz Bredeek; Sharyne Donfield; Erika Menius; Alice Lail; Joachim Mössner; Eric S Daar; Hans L Tillmann Journal: J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr Date: 2012-10-01 Impact factor: 3.731
Authors: Enea Spada; Pietro Amoroso; Gloria Taliani; Ornella Zuccaro; Piergiorgio Chiriacò; Patrizia Maio; Giuseppe Maio; Maria Luisa Esposito; Corrado Mariano; Roberto Rinaldi; Pietro Bellissima; Maria Elena Tosti; Paola Del Porto; Ruggiero Francavilla; Vincenzo Mellace; Anna Rosa Garbuglia; Antonella Folgori; Alfonso Mele Journal: Clin Infect Dis Date: 2013-06-19 Impact factor: 9.079
Authors: Amr M Kandeel; Maha Talaat; Salma A Afifi; Nasr M El-Sayed; Moustafa A Abdel Fadeel; Rana A Hajjeh; Frank J Mahoney Journal: BMC Infect Dis Date: 2012-11-12 Impact factor: 3.090
Authors: Emma C Thomson; Vicki M Fleming; Janice Main; Paul Klenerman; Jonathan Weber; Joseph Eliahoo; Jennifer Smith; Myra O McClure; Peter Karayiannis Journal: Gut Date: 2010-12-07 Impact factor: 23.059