Prevalence of HCV antibodies in health-care workers from northern Italy.
The prevalence of HCV antibodies was assessed in 407 health-care workers and in 253 control subjects by means of immunoassays based on recombinant antigens. The seroprevalence in the study group was fairly low (1.2%) and not statistically different from that of controls (0.8%). The relation of HBV and HCV infections was evaluated in 83 health-care workers and in 82 controls: in both groups anti-HCV positivity was weakly related (p less than 0.05) to the HBV infection. HCV infection was associated with working in high risk wards (4/5 cases) and with report of accidental needle pricks (4/5 cases). As evaluated by means of the available markers, HCV infections in health-care workers seem to be rare.
Campello
C
C
Istituto di Igiene Università degli Studi di Verona, Policlinico Borgo Roma, Italy.
Majori
S
S
Poli
A
A
Pacini
P
P
Nicolardi
L
L
Pini
F
F
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016602:Needlestick Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies