Results of a national epidemiological investigation on HCV infection among dialysis patients. (Survey by the Italian Branch of EDTNA/ERCA).
The Italian Branch of EDTNA-ERCA organised a retrospective epidemiological investigation on the spread of HCV infection in dialysis. A questionnaire was sent to 830 Italian dialysis centres to collect information about prevalence and incidence of HCV infection among patients and staff, anti-HCV testing, presumed sources of infection, sanitation procedures and dialysis strategies adopted to prevent or reduce the transmission of HCV infection. Twenty-seven percent of the dialysis centres responded to the questionnaire. The answers confirmed the decline in HCV prevalence and incidence. At variance with official health organisation recommendations, isolation of anti-HCV-positive patients is still used in many centres (25%) despite the fact that it is not advisable in view of the high cost and uncertain benefit. Dedicated machines for anti-HCV-positive patients should be adopted, at least in units with a high prevalence of these cases.
Lombardi
M
M
Nephrology and Dialysis Unit, SM Annunziata Hospital, Firenze, Italy. lombardim@tin.it
Cerrai
T
T
Geatti
S
S
Negroni
S
S
Pertusini
L
L
Pegoraro
M
M
Di Lullo
G
G
D006436:Hemodialysis Units, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology; D010530:Peritoneal Dialysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016635:Universal Precautions