Wagida A Anwar1, Maha El Gaafary1, Samia A Girgis2, Mona Rafik2, Wafaa M Hussein1, Dalia Sos1, Isis M Mossad1, Arnaud Fontanet3,4, Laura Temime4,5. 1. Faculty of Medicine, Department of Community, Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. 2. Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Pathology, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. 3. Emerging diseases epidemiology Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France. 4. PACRI Unit, Institut Pasteur, Conservatoire national des arts et métiers, Paris, France. 5. Modélisation, Epidémiologie et Surveillance des Risques Sanitaires (MESuRS), Conservatoire national des arts et métiers, Paris, France.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hospitals are suspected of playing a key role in HCV epidemic dynamics in Egypt. This work aimed at assessing HCV prevalence and associated risk factors in patients and health-care workers (HCWs) of Ain Shams University (ASU) hospitals in Cairo. METHODS: We included 500 patients admitted to the internal medicine or surgery hospital from February to July, 2017, as well as 50 HCWs working in these same hospitals. Participants were screened for anti-HCV antibodies and HCV RNA. A questionnaire was administered to collect data on demographic characteristics and medical/surgical history. For HCWs, questions on occupational exposures and infection control practices were also included. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies was 19.80% (95% CI: 16.54-23.52) among participating patients, and 8.00% (95% CI: 0.48-15.52) among participating HCWs. In HCWs, the only risk factors significantly associated with anti-HCV antibodies were age and profession, with higher prevalence in older HCWs and those working as cleaners or porters. In patients, in a multivariate logistic regression, age over 50 (aOR: 3.4 [1.9-5.8]), living outside Cairo (aOR: 2.1 [1.2-3.4]), admission for liver or gastro-intestinal complaints (aOR: 4.2 [1.8-9.9]), and history of receiving parenteral anti-schistosomiasis treatment (aOR: 2.7 [1.2-5.9]) were found associated with anti-HCV antibodies. CONCLUSIONS: While HCV prevalence among patients has decreased since the last survey performed within ASU hospitals in 2008, it is still significantly higher than in the general population. These results may help better control further HCV spread within healthcare settings in Egypt by identifying at-risk patient profiles upon admission.
BACKGROUND: Hospitals are suspected of playing a key role in HCV epidemic dynamics in Egypt. This work aimed at assessing HCV prevalence and associated risk factors in patients and health-care workers (HCWs) of Ain Shams University (ASU) hospitals in Cairo. METHODS: We included 500 patients admitted to the internal medicine or surgery hospital from February to July, 2017, as well as 50 HCWs working in these same hospitals. Participants were screened for anti-HCV antibodies and HCV RNA. A questionnaire was administered to collect data on demographic characteristics and medical/surgical history. For HCWs, questions on occupational exposures and infection control practices were also included. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies was 19.80% (95% CI: 16.54-23.52) among participating patients, and 8.00% (95% CI: 0.48-15.52) among participating HCWs. In HCWs, the only risk factors significantly associated with anti-HCV antibodies were age and profession, with higher prevalence in older HCWs and those working as cleaners or porters. In patients, in a multivariate logistic regression, age over 50 (aOR: 3.4 [1.9-5.8]), living outside Cairo (aOR: 2.1 [1.2-3.4]), admission for liver or gastro-intestinal complaints (aOR: 4.2 [1.8-9.9]), and history of receiving parenteral anti-schistosomiasis treatment (aOR: 2.7 [1.2-5.9]) were found associated with anti-HCV antibodies. CONCLUSIONS: While HCV prevalence among patients has decreased since the last survey performed within ASU hospitals in 2008, it is still significantly higher than in the general population. These results may help better control further HCV spread within healthcare settings in Egypt by identifying at-risk patient profiles upon admission.
Authors: Markus Cornberg; Homie A Razavi; Alfredo Alberti; Enos Bernasconi; Maria Buti; Curtis Cooper; Olav Dalgard; John F Dillion; Robert Flisiak; Xavier Forns; Sona Frankova; Adrian Goldis; Ioannis Goulis; Waldemar Halota; Bela Hunyady; Martin Lagging; Angela Largen; Michael Makara; Spilios Manolakopoulos; Patrick Marcellin; Rui T Marinho; Stanislas Pol; Thierry Poynard; Massimo Puoti; Olga Sagalova; Scott Sibbel; Krzysztof Simon; Carolyn Wallace; Kendra Young; Cihan Yurdaydin; Eli Zuckerman; Francesco Negro; Stefan Zeuzem Journal: Liver Int Date: 2011-07 Impact factor: 5.828
Authors: Amr Kandeel; Mohamad Genedy; Samir El-Refai; Anna L Funk; Arnaud Fontanet; Maha Talaat Journal: Liver Int Date: 2016-06-30 Impact factor: 5.828