Hepatitis C virus transmission in a pediatric oncology ward: analysis of an outbreak and review of the literature.
Hospital-related hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections continue to occur even after the introduction of blood donor screening. We report an outbreak of HCV in nine patients of a pediatric oncology ward in 1996/1997. Sequencing of the hypervariable genomic region 1 (HVR1) of the E2/NS1 region showed near identity between HCV isolates from these patients as evidence for infection with the same virus. Despite a detailed and careful investigation, the source of infection and the mode of virus transmission could not be established. Based on a review of the current literature about nosocomial HCV infection and HCV infection in children, hypotheses for possible means of transmission in this outbreak are discussed.
Knöll
A
A
Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Regensburg, Germany. antje.knoell@klinik.uni-regensburg.de
Helmig
M
M
Peters
O
O
Jilg
W
W
D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000821:virology*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000821:virology*; D002648:Child; D002673:Child, Hospitalized; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000821:virology*; D016522:Oncology Service, Hospital