Prevalence of bloodborne infective agents among people admitted to a Canadian hospital.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence rates of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibodies to the human immunodeficiency virus (anti-HIV) and the hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) among people admitted to an urban Canadian hospital.


METHODS
Anonymous unlinked serosurvey.


METHODS
A 420-bed teaching hospital in Toronto.


METHODS
All 3000 patients admitted to the hospital on weekdays from January to June 1990. An attempt was made to exclude those who were readmitted during the study period.


METHODS
Serum samples from all the patients were tested for HBsAg and anti-HIV, and 1306 samples were also tested for anti-HCV by means of enzyme immunosorbent assays; reactions were confirmed by means of specific antibody neutralization or immunoblot assay.


RESULTS
The prevalence rates of HBsAg, anti-HIV and anti-HCV were 2.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.6% to 2.6%), 0.6% (95% CI 0.3% to 0.9%) and 0.5% (95% CI 0.1% to 0.9%) respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first report defining rates of infection with these bloodborne agents among patients admitted to a Canadian hospital. The observed rates likely reflect the patient population served by our hospital and do not necessarily apply to other Canadian centres. The results support the use of universal precautions in health care settings.
Louie
M
M
Department of Microbiology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON.
Low
D E
DE
Feinman
S V
SV
McLaughlin
B
B
Simor
A E
AE
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000635:transmission; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D015995:Prevalence; D016635:Universal Precautions
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens