Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-l7hp2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T11:58:48.187Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Risk to Cancer Patients From Nosocomial Hepatitis C Virus

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Kent A. Sepkowitz*
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
*
Hospital Infection Control, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10021

Abstract

Nosocomial transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) among dialysis patients is a well-described phenomenon. In addition, spread of HCV in outpatient medical clinic settings has recently been reported. In the past decade, nosocomial spread of hepatitis C among hospitalized patients being treated for cancer has increasingly been reported. The cause or source of transmission is unknown. Infection control practitioners should be aware of this potential risk to oncology patients.

Type
Infections in Immunocompromised Patients
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2004

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Tokars, JI, Frank, M, Alter, MJ, Arduino, MJ. National surveillance of dialysis-associated diseases in the United States, 2000. Semin Dial 2002;15:162171.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
2.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Transmission of hepatitis B and C viruses in outpatient settings: New York, Oklahoma, and Nebraska, 2000-2002. MMWR 2003;52:901906.Google Scholar
3.Allander, T, Gruber, A, Naghavi, M, et al.Frequent patient-to-patient transmission of hepatitis C virus in a haematology ward. Lancet 1995;345:603607.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4.Rieske, K, Domula, M, Iiebert, UG, et al.Clinical aspects and epidemiology of hepatitis C in immunosuppressed children with mostly oncologic diseases [in German]. Klin Padiatr 1998;210:274278.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5.Widell, A, Christensson, B, Wiebe, T, et al.Epidemiologic and molecular investigation of outbreaks of hepatitis C virus infection on a pediatric oncology service. Ann Intern Med 1999;130:130134.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6.Knoll, A, Helmig, M, Peters, O, Jilg, W. Hepatitis C virus transmission in a pediatric oncology ward: analysis of an outbreak and review of the literature. Lab Invest 2001;81:251262.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7.Dumpis, U, Kovalova, Z, Jansons, J, et al.An outbreak of HBV and HCV infection in a paediatric oncology ward: epidemiological investigations and prevention of further spread. J Med Virol 2003;69:331338.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8.Januszkiewicz-Lewandowska, D, Wysocki, J, Rembowska, J, et al.Transmission of HCV infection among long-term hospitalized onco-haematological patients. J Hosp Infect 2003;53:120123.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9.Dibenedetto, SP, Miraglia, V, Ippolito, AM, et al.Reduction in the incidence of infection by hepatitis C virus in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia after suspension of sampling from the finger. Pediatr Infect Dis J 1996;15:265266.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10.Rosen, HR. Acquisition of hepatitis C by a conjunctival splash. Am J Infect Control 1997;25:242247.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed