title: HCV infection occupational hazard at dialysis units and virus spread, among relatives of dialyzed patients.
abstract: It was the purpose of this study to evaluate the spread of HCV infection among the staff at Dialysis Units and among relatives of anti-HCV-positive hemodialysis patients. 122 health-care workers and 52 relatives were screened for presence of anti-HCV Ab. The control groups consisted of 100 health-care workers from other wards and 30 relatives of anti-HCV-negative subjects. 2.45% of the health-care staff and 5.8% of the relatives were found to be anti-HCV Ab carriers. None of the subjects in the control groups were positive. In conclusion, the results of this study indicate that there is a real possibility of HCV spread through occupational exposure although the corresponding percentage in less than that presumably due to within-the-family contagion by the virus.
authors.affiliation: Operative Unit of Nephrology, Altamura, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Petrarulo
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maggi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sacchetti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pallotta
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dagostino
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Basile
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006436:Hemodialysis Units, Hospital; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010564:Personnel, Hospital
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies