[Prevalence of anti-HCV antibody positivity and seroconversion incidence in hemodialysis patients].
OBJECTIVE
The prevalence of positivity to anti-HCV antibodies and the incidence of seroconversion in a group of patients undergoing replacement hemodialytic treatment was evaluated using a retrospective analysis. The study was carried out in a hemodialysis centre with no areas and/or equipment dedicated to patients positive to anti-HCV antibodies. The aim was to check whether the rigid application of universal aseptic precautions, which are always adopted by the centre, are sufficient to prevent contagion by hepatitis C virus in patients undergoing dialysis.


METHODS
The study was carried out in patients receiving dialysis in the Centre (74 patients at the start of the observation period) for two years (7/95-7/97). Anti-HCV antibodies were assayed every two months using a third generation ELISA tests and positive results were confirmed by RIBA III test. At the start of the observation period, 10/74 patients showed positive levels of anti-HCV antibodies (13.5%).


RESULTS
During the period in question none of the patients with negative levels of anti-HCV antibodies at the start of the study became positive. Of the patients undergoing dialysis after 1/7/95, four were already positive for anti-HCV antibodies and none of the others became positive.


CONCLUSIONS
The experience confirms that the application of universal aspeptic precautions may be sufficient to prevent the spread of hepatitis C virus in dialysis centres.
Biamino
E
E
Servizio di Nefrologia e Dialisi, Presidio Ospedaliero di Asti, Regione Piemonte, ASL 19 Asti.
Caligaris
F
F
Ferrero
S
S
Montalcini
G
G
Bongiorno
P
P
Scuvera
I
I
D001207:Asepsis / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies
Prevalenza di positività per anticorpi antiHCV e incidenza di sieroconversione in pazienti in emodialisi.