In-Hospital Screening Campaign Against Hepatitis C Could Be Effective for Identifying More Patients Who Still Need...

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• Global initiatives aim for hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination by 2030.
• Italy has implemented phased HCV screening programs, targeting specific birth cohorts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of active HCV infection (positive viral load) in hospitalized patients.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of universal screening in identifying individuals not covered by current national guidelines.

Main Methods:

• A universal screening campaign for HCV was conducted among adult hospitalized patients throughout 2022.
• Testing involved anti-HCV antibody screening followed by HCV-RNA testing for positive cases.

Main Results:

• Out of 10,846 samples, 4.8% tested positive for HCV antibodies and 1% (109 patients) had a positive viral load.
• The median age of patients with a positive viral load was 62 years, with significant age differences between sexes.
• A majority (77%) of patients with a positive viral load were outside the age range targeted by national screening recommendations.

Conclusions:

• Hospitalized patient populations represent a valuable setting for enhancing HCV screening programs.
• Universal screening in hospitals can identify individuals missed by targeted national recommendations, contributing to HCV elimination goals.