Hepatitis B and hemodialysis: the impact of universal precautions in preventing the transmission of bloodborne viruses.
A detailed description is presented of the hemodialysis treatment for 6 weeks of a patient strongly positive for hepatitis B virus ([HBV], hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis B e antigen, HBV DNA), which was performed without any special precautions. All 59 patients potentially exposed to the HBV-positive patient, of whom 29 appeared fully unprotected by antibody, were followed for at least 9 months but remained negative. This illustrates the feasibility of following Universal Precautions instead of using exceptional procedures for one single agent.
Department of Virology, University Hospital Dijkzigt, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. kroes@virology.azl.nl
A C
AC
Kroes
E F
EF
van Bommel
J A
JA
Kluytmans
W
W
Weimar
D000328:Adult; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D009426:Netherlands; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016635:Universal Precautions