Iatrogenic GB virus C/hepatitis G virus infection in an area endemic for hepatitis C virus.
GB virus C/hepatitis G virus (GBV-C/HGV) is reported to be transmitted by blood products. This study reports infection with GBV-C/HGV from Area-O of town T, an area of high prevalence of antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV). Four hundred and thirty-five inhabitants of Area-O in town T were examined. Three hundred and forty-three inhabitants of Area-H in town T (where differences of age or sex are not markedly different to Area-O) were studied as controls. We investigated the virus markers and conducted a survey of life history in both areas. The seroprevalence of anti-HCV and GBV-C/HGV markers in Area-O was 17.7% and 11.7%, significantly higher than in Area-H (1.5% and 4.4%). The prevalence of GBV-C/HGV markers was significantly higher in the anti-HCV-positive group than in the sero-negative group. Anti-HCV- or GBV-C/HGV positive subjects tended to have a history of intravenous medications at hospital C in town T, suggesting iatrogenic infection through insufficient sterilization of needles and/or syringes.
Ohshima
S
S
First Department of Internal Medicine, Akita University School of Medicine, Akita, Japan. ohshima@med.akita-ua.c.jp
Komatsu
M
M
Nakane
K
K
Meng
X W
XW
Goto
T
T
Fujii
T
T
Yoneyama
K
K
Wada
Y
Y
Tobori
F
F
Mukaide
M
M
Masamune
O
O
Watanabe
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*; D019353:Endemic Diseases / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D018067:Flaviviridae / Q000145:classification; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous / Q000009:adverse effects; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data