Patient to patient transmission of hepatitis C virus in hemodialysis units

Citation
H. Taskapan et al., Patient to patient transmission of hepatitis C virus in hemodialysis units, CLIN NEPHR, 55(6), 2001, pp. 477-481
Citations number
19
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
Urology & Nephrology","da verificare
Journal title
CLINICAL NEPHROLOGY
ISSN journal
0301-0430 → ACNP
Volume
55
Issue
6
Year of publication
2001
Pages
477 - 481
Database
ISI
SICI code
0301-0430(200106)55:6<477:PTPTOH>2.0.ZU;2-U
Abstract
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.