title: Nosocomial outbreak of multiple bloodborne viral infections.
abstract: In resource-limited countries, nosocomial transmission of bloodborne pathogens is a major public health concern. After a major outbreak of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in approximately 400 children in 1998 in Libya, we tested HIV, hepatitis C virus (HCV), and hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers in 148 children and collected epidemiological data in a subgroup of 37 children and 46 parents. HIV infection was detected in all children but one, with HCV or HBV coinfection in 47% and 33%, respectively. Vertical transmission was ruled out by analysis of parents' serology. The children visited the same hospital 1-6 times; at each visit, invasive procedures with potential blood transmission of virus were performed. HIV and HCV genotypic analyses identified a HIV monophyletic group, whereas 4 clusters of HCV sequences were identified. To our knowledge, this is the largest documented outbreak of nosocomial HIV transmission.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Virology, Division of Infectious Diseases, Geneva University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yerly
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Quadri
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Negro
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Barbe
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Cheseaux
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Burgisser
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Siegrist
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Perrin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens; D002648:Child; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005838:Genotype; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008002:Libya / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D010290:Parents; D010802:Phylogeny; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013557:Switzerland; D014766:Viremia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral