Recommendations for follow-up of health-care workers after occupational exposure to hepatitis C virus.
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major cause of chronic liver disease in the United States and worldwide. At least 85% of persons with HCV infection become chronically infected, and chronic liver disease with persistently elevated liver enzymes develops in approximately 70% of all HCV-infected persons. Persons with chronic hepatitis C are at risk for cirrhosis and primary hepatocellular carcinoma. Most HCV transmission is associated with direct percutaneous exposure to blood. Health-care workers (HCWs) are at occupational risk for acquiring this viral infection. However, no vaccine is available to prevent hepatitis C, and immune globulin is not recommended for postexposure prophylaxis.
D006282:Health Personnel; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016273:Occupational Exposure