Nosocomial Hepatitis C: More of a Hidden Epidemic
Authors: Alfred DeMaria, David R. Snydman
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2012)

Editorials3 April 2012Nosocomial Hepatitis C: More of a Hidden EpidemicAlfred DeMaria Jr., MD and David R. Snydman, MDAlfred DeMaria Jr., MDFrom Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Boston, MA 02130, and Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA 02111.Search for more papers by this author and David R. Snydman, MDFrom Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Boston, MA 02130, and Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA 02111.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-156-7-201204030-00011 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail Patient-to-patient transmission of hepatitis in health care settings has been a notable problem over the past 35 years (1). Hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmission was the focus of public health authorities until recently—with the advent of vaccination of both providers and patients, HBV transmission has become less common. Historically, identified outbreaks of nosocomial hepatitis C were less common than those of hepatitis B (2) and were largely limited to dialysis units (3). However, reports in both Europe and the United States document that hepatitis C virus (HCV) can be transmitted by chronically infected health care providers to patients. Outbreaks due ...References1. Michelin A, Henderson DK. Infection control guidelines for prevention of health care-associated transmission of hepatitis B and C viruses. Clin Liver Dis. 2010;14:119-36. [PMID: 20123445] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Widell A, Christensson B, Wiebe T, Schalén C, Hansson HB, Allander T, et al. Epidemiologic and molecular investigation of outbreaks of hepatitis C virus infection on a pediatric oncology service. 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Hepatitis C virus transmission from healthcare workers to patients in the USA. J Clin Virol. 2006;36:S43-S44. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar8. Hellinger WC, Bacalis LP, Kay RS, Thompson ND, Xia GL, Lin Y, et al. Health care–associated hepatitis C virus infections attributed to narcotic diversion. Ann Intern Med. 2012;156:477-82. [PMID: 19124818] LinkGoogle Scholar9. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Viral Hepatitis Surveillance—United States, 2009. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2011. Accessed at www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/statistics/2009surveillance/ on 27 February 2012. Google Scholar10. Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. Eliminating Healthcare-Associated Infections: State Policy Options. Arlington, VA: Association of State and Territorial Health Officials; 2011. Accessed at www.cdc.gov/hai/pdfs/toolkits/toolkit-HAI-POLICY-FINAL_01-2012.pdf on 27 February 2012. Google Scholar11. Kohn LT, Corrigan JM, Donaldson MS. To Err Is Human: Building a Safer Health System. Washington, DC: National Academies Pr; 2000. Google Scholar12. Klevens RM, Edwards JR, Richards CL, Horan TC, Gaynes RP, Pollock DA, et al. Estimating health care-associated infections and deaths in U.S. hospitals, 2002. Public Health Rep. 2007;122:160-6. [PMID: 17357358] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar13. Weber SG, Huang SS, Oriola S, Huskins WC, Noskin GA, Harriman K, et al; Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. Legislative mandates for use of active surveillance cultures to screen for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin-resistant enterococci: position statement from the Joint SHEA and APIC Task Force. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2007;28:249-60. [PMID: 17326014] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar14. Reagan J, Hacker C. Laws pertaining to healthcare-associated infections: a review of 3 legal requirements. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2012;33:75-80. [PMID: 22173526] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar15. Chak E, Talal AH, Sherman KE, Schiff ER, Saab S. Hepatitis C virus infection in USA: an estimate of true prevalence. Liver Int. 2011;31:1090-101. [PMID: 21745274] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar16. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Combating the Silent Epidemic of Viral Hepatitis: Action Plan for the Prevention, Care & Treatment of Viral Hepatitis. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services; 2011. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Alfred DeMariaJr., MD; David R. Snydman, MDAffiliations: From Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Boston, MA 02130, and Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA 02111.Disclosures: Disclosures can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=M12-0374.Corresponding Author: David R. Snydman, MD, Tufts Medical Center, Box 238, 800 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02111; e-mail, dsnydman@tuftsmedicalcenter.org.Current Author Addresses: Dr. DeMaria: Massachusetts Department of Public Health, William A. Hinton State Laboratory Institute, 305 South Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130.Dr. Snydman: Tufts Medical Center, Box 238, 800 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02111. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoHealth Care–Associated Hepatitis C Virus Infections Attributed to Narcotic Diversion Walter C. Hellinger , Laura P. Bacalis , Robyn S. Kay , Nicola D. Thompson , Guo-Liang Xia , Yulin Lin , Yury E. Khudyakov , and Joseph F. Perz Metrics Cited byGender differences in risk exposures for acute hepatitis C infection in Taiwan: a nationwide case–control studyPerioperative Infection Transmission: the Role of the Anesthesia Provider in Infection Control and Healthcare-Associated InfectionsHepatitis C Contamination of Medication Vials Accessed with Sterile Needles and SyringesHCV transmission in industrialized countries and resource-constrained areas 3 April 2012Volume 156, Issue 7Page: 534-535KeywordsDrugsHealth careHealth care providersHealth economicsHepatitisHepatitis CInfectious hepatitisPrevention, policy, and public healthRisk managementViral transmission and infection ePublished: 3 April 2012 Issue Published: 3 April 2012 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2012 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...