[Prevalence of serum anti-hepatitis C virus antibodies and risk factors of contamination in the personnel of a hospital in the Paris region. A prospective survey].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this prospective study was to estimate the prevalence of subjects with serum anti-HCV antibodies in a University Hospital in the Paris area, and to identify the risk factors associated with contamination.


METHODS
Over an 18 month period, each person working in the hospital was systematically requested to fill out an anonymous questionnaire including 23 questions and to undergo a blood test for an anti-HCV assay during their annual medical visit.


RESULTS
557 (33%) of 1693 employees accepted to fill out the questionnaire and the anti-HCV assay. Serum anti-HCV antibodies were present in 9 subjects, which represents a prevalence of 1.6%, and serum RNA was positive by PCR, m 7. The prevalence was significantly higher in subjects working in clinical units (3.0%) compared to subjects working in non-clinical units (0.7%: P = 0.04) and in subjects with a history of acute hepatitis (5.5% vs 0.9%; P = 0.002%) Anti-HCV-positive subjects had more history of manipulating blood products than HCV-negative subjects (17.0 vs 8.8 years of exposure; P = 0.01), other human samples (17.0 vs 7.6 years; P = 0.01), and of having at risk contacts (16.7 vs 6.2 years; P = 0.0004).


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest the importance of systematic anti-HCV screening among health care workers particularly those in contact with patients.
Maillard
M F
MF
Service de Médecine du Travail, Hôpital Antoine-Béclère, Clamart.
Poynard
T
T
Dubreuil
P
P
Agostini
H
H
Hautecoeur
B
B
Pillot
J
J
Chaput
J C
JC
D000328:Adult; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005784:Gene Amplification; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional; D008297:Male; D010297:Paris; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies