title: Lack of transmission of hepatitis C virus following needlestick accidents.
abstract: Healthcare workers (HCWs) have an occupational risk of infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV). However, data regarding the magnitude of this risk are limited. We conducted a prospective study on a cohort of 24 HCWs who were exposed to HCV by needlestick injuries involving 25 patients. All source patients were viremic with a mean HCV-RNA level of 1.65 megagenomic equivalents per milliliter. At least 64% of patients were infected with HCV serotype 4 (Simmond's classification). After a follow up period of at least 6 months, none of the exposed HCWs acquired HCV. Thus, HCV does not seem to be easily transmitted by needlestick injuries. However, further large-scale studies are needed for a more accurate estimation of the risk of transmission.
authors.affiliation: Thunayan Al-Ghanim Gastroenterology and Hepatology Center, and Amiri Hospital, Kuwait.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hasan
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Askar
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Al Khalidi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al Shamali
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al Kalaoui
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Al Nakib
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional; D007730:Kuwait; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016602:Needlestick Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors