title: Injection with nondisposable needles as an important route for transmission of acute community-acquired hepatitis C virus infection in Taiwan.
abstract: A prospective case-controlled study was conducted in order to determine the transmission route of community-acquired hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Taiwan. Thirty-eight consecutive patients (25 men and 13 women) with acute community-acquired HCV infection and 76 age (within 3 years)- and sex-matched healthy control subjects without HCV infection were enrolled. Serum anti-HCV was tested by second generation immunoassay. The sera of 26 family members from 12 families of index patients were also tested for anti-HCV. A questionnaire covering the history of blood transfusion, surgery, intravenous drug abuse, prostitute contact, dental procedures, injection, acupuncture, tattooing, and ear-piercing was conducted among patients and control subjects. Univariate analysis revealed injection with nondisposable needles was an independent risk factor (P = 0.02, odds ratio = 4.17, 95% confidence interval = 1.24-14.47) associated with HCV infection. Other risk factors were not significant. Only 2 (7.7%) family members of index patients had an anti-HCV. In conclusion, more vigorous effort to prohibit the use of nondisposable needles should be promoted to interrupt the spread of community-acquired HCV infection in Taiwan. Of note, a significant number of patients (34.2%) contracted HCV infection without identifiable risk factors. Unidentified routes need to be investigated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: T Z
authors.initials: TZ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: F S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Yen
authors.forename: W Y
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: T I
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Huo
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009339:Needles; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013624:Taiwan
chemical_list: D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies