Prevalence of hepatitis C infection in health care workers affiliated with a liver transplant center.
The risk of hepatitis C to liver transplantation health care workers has not been identified. We compared the occupational risk of hepatitis C in health care workers associated with liver transplantation with risk of health care workers affiliated with the same institutions but not involved in transplantations. Health care workers were recruited from 2 transplant centers. Participation was voluntary; results were confidential. An occupational and health history questionnaire was completed and blood was donated for testing. Health care workers were categorized into 3 groups according to risk for hepatitis C infection: very high, high, and low risk. A total of 241 health care workers were recruited from 2 transplant centers. Fifty-nine percent (142/241) were female; mean age was 38.7 years. Health care workers included: 48.5% (117/241) nurses, 24.9% (60/241) physicians, and 17% (42/241) laboratory personnel. The mean number of years in their occupation was 13.5 years (range < 1 year to 38 years). Twenty-four percent (57/241) were categorized in a very high risk occupation for hepatitis C, 66% (158/241) in a high risk occupation, and 10.8% (26/241) in a low risk occupation. A total of 2.1% (5/241) of health care workers were reactive to hepatitis C by enzyme immunosorbent assay; three of these were positive by polymerase chain reaction testing. Of the 3, none had a history of hepatitis or transfusion. However, 5.3% (3/57) of health care workers involved with liver transplantation were infected, as compared with 0% (0/184) who were not (P = 0.013). We conclude that health care workers associated with liver transplantation may be at a higher risk for hepatitis C when compared with health care workers not associated with transplantation.
Goetz
A M
AM
Infectious Disease Section, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15240, USA.
Ndimbie
O K
OK
Wagener
M M
MM
Muder
R R
RR
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D010414:Pennsylvania / Q000453:epidemiology
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies