Hepatitis C in a hemodialysis unit: molecular evidence for nosocomial transmission.
This study reports four cases of transmission of the rare hepatitis C virus genotype 4 which occurred in a hemodialysis unit and originated from a single source of infection. Phylogenetic analyses performed with the NS5b domain showed that all four patients with secondary infections were infected with virus strains very similar to that of the index patient. Cross infections probably resulted from breaches in safety precautions and lack of dialysis machine sterilization.
Le Pogam
S
S
Département de Microbiologie Médicale et Moléculaire, CHU Bretonneau, 37044 Tours Cedex, France.
Le Chapois
D
D
Christen
R
R
Dubois
F
F
Barin
F
F
Goudeau
A
A
D003428:Cross Infection / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D005602:France; D005838:Genotype; D006436:Hemodialysis Units, Hospital; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D010802:Phylogeny; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012449:Safety; D013242:Sterilization / Q000592:standards; D016635:Universal Precautions; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase
D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins; C087036:NS-5 protein, hepatitis C virus; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase