Hepatitis C. Epidemiologic quandaries.
Although many aspects of the transmission of HCV have been clarified, some important issues remain controversial, and the conventional wisdom may be based more on opinion than data (Table 2). HCV is transmitted by percutaneous exposure to contaminated blood, uncommonly from a mother to her infant and between sexual partners, and rarely during the provision of medical care in developed nations. Improved behavioral research instruments are needed to further the understanding of the practices that actually transmit infection. In addition, large, prospective studies are necessary to characterize the frequency [table: see text] of transmission between sexual partners and the potential role of cesarian section in reducing HCV transmission to infants.
Thomas
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Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
D001826:Body Fluids / Q000821:virology; D003075:Coitus; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D003906:Developing Countries; D004340:Drug Contamination; D015981:Epidemiologic Factors; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000009:adverse effects; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous