Patient-to-Patient Transmission of Hepatitis C Virus
Authors: Richard P. Wenzel, Michael B. Edmond
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2005)

Editorials7 June 2005Patient-to-Patient Transmission of Hepatitis C VirusRichard P. Wenzel, MD, MSc and Michael B. Edmond, MD, MPH, MPARichard P. Wenzel, MD, MScFrom Virginia Commonwealth University, Medical College of Virginia Campus, Richmond, VA 23298.Search for more papers by this author and Michael B. Edmond, MD, MPH, MPAFrom Virginia Commonwealth University, Medical College of Virginia Campus, Richmond, VA 23298.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-142-11-200506070-00014 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail Cancer affects almost 10 million people in the United States (1) and leads to 560 000 deaths annually (2). Survivors frequently receive chemotherapy during multiple clinic visits each year. Because of pervasive dread associated with the diagnosis of cancer in western cultures, quality of treatment is defined by the health care team's assiduous attention to detail and sensitivity to patients' emotional needs.Imagine the astonishment, then, of vulnerable patients with cancer observing poor infection-control techniques by a health care professional attending their central venous catheters. Furthermore, consider the anguish if the patients subsequently learn that they were victims of preventable, health ...References1. Ries LA, Eisner MP, Kosary CL, Hankey BF, Miller BA, Clegg L, et al., eds. SEER Cancer Statistics Review, 1975–2002. Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institute; 2005. Accessed at seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2002 on 29 April 2005. Google Scholar2. National Center for Health Statistics. Fast Stats A to Z. Cancer. Accessed at www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/cancer.htm on 29 April 2005. Google Scholar3. Grundy G, Beeching N. Understanding social stigma in women with hepatitis C. Nurs Stand. 2004;19:35-9. [PMID: 15521414] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Macedo de Oliveira A, White KL, Leschinsky DP, Beecham BD, Vogt TM, Moolenaar RL, et al. An outbreak of hepatitis C virus infections among outpatients at a hematology/oncology clinic. Ann Intern Med. 2005;142:898-902. LinkGoogle Scholar5. O'Grady NP, Alexander M, Dellinger EP, Gerberding JL, Heard SO, Maki DG, et al. Guidelines for the prevention of intravascular catheter-related infections. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2002;51 RR-10 1-29. [PMID: 12233868] MedlineGoogle Scholar6. Lagging LM, Aneman C, Nenonen N, Brandberg A, Grip L, Norkrans G, et al. Nosocomial transmission of HCV in a cardiology ward during the window phase of infection: an epidemiological and molecular investigation. Scand J Infect Dis. 2002;34:580-2. [PMID: 12238573] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar7. Silini E, Locasciulli A, Santoleri L, Gargantini L, Pinzello G, Montillo M, et al. Hepatitis C virus infection in a hematology ward: evidence for nosocomial transmission and impact on hematologic disease outcome. Haematologica. 2002;87:1200-8. [PMID: 12414351] MedlineGoogle Scholar8. Krause G, Trepka MJ, Whisenhunt RS, Katz D, Nainan O, Wiersma ST, et al. Nosocomial transmission of hepatitis C virus associated with the use of multidose saline vials. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2003;24:122-7. [PMID: 12602694] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar9. Furusyo N, Kubo N, Nakashima H, Kashiwagi K, Etoh Y, Hayashi J. Confirmation of nosocomial hepatitis C virus infection in a hemodialysis unit. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2004;25:584-90. [PMID: 15301031] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar10. Massari M, Petrosillo N, Ippolito G, Solforosi L, Bonazzi L, Clementi M, et al. Transmission of hepatitis C virus in a gynecological surgery setting. J Clin Microbiol. 2001;39:2860-3. [PMID: 11474004] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar11. Comstock RD, Mallonee S, Fox JL, Moolenaar RL, Vogt TM, Perz JF, et al. A large nosocomial outbreak of hepatitis C and hepatitis B among patients receiving pain remediation treatments. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2004;25:576-83. [PMID: 15301030] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar12. Forns X, Martinez-Bauer E, Feliu A, Garcia-Retortillo M, Martin M, Gay E, et al. Nosocomial transmission of HCV in the liver unit of a tertiary care center. Hepatology. 2005;41:115-122. [PMID: 15619236] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar13. Saxena AK, Panhotra BR, Sundaram DS, Naguib M, Venkateshappa CK, Uzzaman W, et al. Impact of dedicated space, dialysis equipment, and nursing staff on the transmission of hepatitis C virus in a hemodialysis unit of the Middle East. Am J Infect Control. 2003;31:26-33. [PMID: 12548254] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar14. Ciancio A, Manzini P, Castagno F, D'Antico S, Reynaudo P, Coucourde L, et al. Digestive endoscopy is not a major risk factor for transmitting hepatitis C virus. Ann Intern Med. 2005;142:903-9. LinkGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From Virginia Commonwealth University, Medical College of Virginia Campus, Richmond, VA 23298.Disclosures: None disclosed.Corresponding Author: Richard P. Wenzel, MD, MSc, Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Old City Hall, Suite 405, PO Box 980663, Richmond, VA 23298-0663.Current Author Addresses: Drs. Wenzel and Edmond: Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Old City Hall, Suite 405, PO Box 980663, Richmond, VA 23298-0663. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoAn Outbreak of Hepatitis C Virus Infections among Outpatients at a Hematology/Oncology Clinic Alexandre Macedo de Oliveira , Kathryn L. White , Dennis P. Leschinsky , Brady D. Beecham , Tara M. Vogt , Ronald L. Moolenaar , Joseph F. Perz , and Thomas J. Safranek Digestive Endoscopy Is Not a Major Risk Factor for Transmitting Hepatitis C Virus Alessia Ciancio , Paola Manzini , Franco Castagno , Sergio D'Antico , Paolo Reynaudo , Laura Coucourde , Giovannino Ciccone , Mario Del Piano , Marco Ballarè , Sergio Peyre , Roberto Rizzi , Claudio Barletti , Mauro Bruno , Stefania Caronna , Patrizia Carucci , Wilma De Bernardi Venon , Claudio De Angelis , Anna Morgando , Alessandro Musso , Alessandro Repici , Mario Rizzetto , and Giorgio Saracco Correction: Patient-to-Patient Transmission of Hepatitis C VirusPatient-to-Patient Transmission of Hepatitis C Michel Y. Jadoul Metrics Cited ByTime for the Elimination of Hepatitis C Virus as a Global Health ThreatPeripheral Intravenous CathetersBlood component donors and recipients as linked study objects in epidemiological population-based surveysCase-control study of hepatitis B and hepatitis C in older adults: Do healthcare exposures contribute to burden of new infections?Glucose meters and opportunities for in-hospital transmission of infection: Quantitative assessment and management with and without patient assignmentUS Outbreak Investigations Highlight the Need for Safe Injection Practices and Basic Infection ControlHealth Care–Associated Transmission of Hepatitis B and C in Oncology CareHepatitis C virus infection in health-care settings: Medical and ethical implicationsHealthcare should not be a vehicle for transmission of hepatitis C virusEffect of the Introduction of an Engineered Sharps Injury Prevention Device on the Percutaneous Injury Rate in Healthcare WorkersTransmission of hepatitis C virus by blood transfusions and other medical procedures: A global reviewPatient-to-Patient Transmission of Hepatitis CMichel Y. Jadoul, MDCorrection: Patient-to-Patient Transmission of Hepatitis C Virus 7 June 2005Volume 142, Issue 11Page: 940-941KeywordsBloodHealth careHepatitis C virusInfectious disease controlNursesOutpatient clinicsOutpatientsPathogensQuality of life ePublished: 7 June 2005 Issue Published: 7 June 2005 CopyrightCopyright © 2005 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF DownloadLoading ...