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Prospective Study of Nosocomial Transmission of Hepatitis C in a Swedish Gastroenterology Unit

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Hans Verbaan*
Affiliation:
Gastroenterology-Hepatology Division, Department of Medicine, University of Lund, Malmö University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
Vilma Molnegren
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Lund, Malmö University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
Inez Pentmo
Affiliation:
Department of Surgery, University of Lund, Malmö University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
Lena Rubin
Affiliation:
Gastroenterology-Hepatology Division, Department of Medicine, University of Lund, Malmö University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
Anders Widell
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Lund, Malmö University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
*
Gastroenterology and Hepatology Division, Department of Medicine, Malmö University Hospital, S-205 02 Malmö, Sweden ([email protected])

Abstract

A prospective study of incident hepatitis C in 515 gastroenterology patients was conducted by follow-up sampling at 3-6 months after admission to the gastroenterology unit to test for antibodies to hepatitis C virus and for hepatitis C virus RNA. Universal precautions were implemented, and the use of multidose vials had been banned in this unit. Despite 5,964 exposure–days for several risk factors associated with nosocomial hepatitis C virus transmission, no incident case of hepatitis C occurred.

Type
Concise Communications
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2008

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