Aims. In dialysis patients, blood transfusions and long-term dialysis are w
ell known risk factors for transmission of hepatitis C virus. In this study
the impact of use of dedicated hemodialysis (HD) units on the anti-HCV con
version rates was studied in patients of two different hemodialysis units i
n a city, Kayseri, between October 1995, and March 1999. Materials and meth
ods. In the HD Unit of Erciyes University (HUEU), anti-HCV-positive and -ne
gative patients were dialyzed on the dedicated machines in the same big roo
m and seropositive patients for HBsAg in isolated rooms. In the HD Unit of
Kayseri State Government Hospital (HUSH) only seronegative for anti-HCV and
hepatitis B patients were treated. If a patient became positive, the patie
nt was transferred to HUEU. Seventy-five patients have been receiving hemod
ialysis therapy in HUEU. Thirteen HBsAg-positive and 62 HBsAg-negative pati
ents were dialyzed in separate rooms. Of 62 HBsAg-negative patients, 22 (35
.5%) were already positive for HCV antibody when they started dialysis or b
efore the study period. Forty seronegative patients (64.5%) for anti-HCV (2
3 males, 17 females) were treated with 22 anti-HCV-positive patients in the
same room in HUEU. The mean duration of dialysis treatment was 24.7 +/- 21
.0 months (range 4 to 96 months). Of the 40 patients, 28 (70%) became posit
ive during the study period. Of 28 patients who became seropositive, 10 (35
.7%) had a history of blood transfusion. Fifty-four patients (21 males, 33
females) were treated in HUSH during the study period. The mean duration of
dialysis treatment was 19.3 +/-9.6 months (range 5 - 41). Eight patients (
14.8%) became anti-HCV-positive. Of these, 7 had received blood transfusion
(88%). Results. The seroconversion rate of patients in HUEU was higher tha
n that of HUSH (odds ratio 3) (p < 0.05). Data derived from our patients sh
owed that contamination appeared to be both transfusional and nosocomial an
d that there is a possibility of transmitting HCV infection in hemodialyzed
patients never submitted to blood or blood products transfusion. Nosocomia
l spread of HCV in HD units which both seropositive and seronegative patien
ts treated together was higher than that of dedicated unit. This is true ev
en though we separated anti-HCV-positive dialysis machine.