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[Hepatitis C virus antibodies in hospital personnel]
J I Villate1, J Corral, C Aguirre
1Servicio de Medicina Preventiva, Hospital General de Cruces-Baracaldo, Vizcaya.
Insights
Healthcare workers in direct contact with hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients show a higher prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies. Hospital work, particularly in specific departments, increases infection risk due to potential exposure to patient fluids.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Context:
- Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is a major cause of non-A, non-B hepatitis.
- Anti-HCV antibody detection enables epidemiological studies and identification of risk factors.
- Healthcare settings present unique exposure risks for infectious agents.
Purpose:
- To determine the prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies in hospital healthcare staff.
- To compare HCV prevalence in healthcare workers with a control group of extrahospitalary workers.
- To identify potential occupational risks associated with healthcare work and HCV infection.
Summary:
- A seroepidemiologic study involved 874 healthcare staff and 547 control workers.
- 1.6% of healthcare staff tested positive for HCV antibodies, compared to 0.4% in the control group (p < 0.05).
- HCV RNA was detected in 11 participants; 50% of seropositive cases showed other contagion data, and 1.1% had no identified risk factor other than hospital work.
Impact:
- Working in departments with HCV patients increases occupational risk.
- Accidental exposure to patient fluids in high-risk areas is a significant concern.
- Findings underscore the need for stringent infection control measures in healthcare settings.
Background:
The discovery of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) largely responsible for the non A non B hepatitis, and the antiHCV antibody allows epidemiologic data and risk factors of infection related to the same to be known. The aim of the authors was to know the prevalence of the antiHCV in health care staff in relation with a group of extrahospitalary workers.
Methods:
A transversal seroepidemiologic study was carried out in physicians, nurses and auxiliaries with seniority of more than one year in the medical, surgical, emergency, and ICU departments and laboratories of the general hospital of reference (1200 beds).
Results:
Of the 874 participants (93% of the candidates) 19 (2%) had HCV antibodies detected by ELISA; with positive RIBA II and positive LIA test in 14 (1.6%) of them. In 11 sera ARN of HVC was detected by PCR. Of 547 extrahospitalary workers of the control group, 2 (0.4%) had positive markers against HCV (p < 0.05). The GPT of the seropositive individuals was normal in four and equal to or less than 70 U/l in six. Seven cases (50%) also had serologic data of contagion with HCV. In 10 (1.1%) of the health care staff no risk factor other than hospitalary work was found.
Conclusions:
Working in departments attending HCV carriers represents an increase in risk which must be taken into account with regard to accidental exposure to fluids of patients admitted to these areas.