title: Potential exposure to hepatitis C virus through accidental blood contact in interventional radiology.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To quantify the prevalence of accidental blood exposure (ABE) among interventional radiologists and contrast that with the prevalence of patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) undergoing interventional radiology procedures.
  
  
  METHODS
  A multicenter epidemiologic study was conducted in radiology wards in France. The risk of ABE to radiologists was assessed based on personal interviews that determined the frequency and type of ABE and the use of standard protective barriers. Patients who underwent invasive procedures underwent prospective sampling for HCV serologic analysis. HCV viremia was measured in patients who tested positive for HCV.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 77 radiologists who participated in 11 interventional radiology wards, 44% reported at least one incident of mucous membrane blood exposure and 52% reported at least one percutaneous injury since the beginning of their occupational activity. Compliance with standard precautions was poor, especially for the use of protective clothes and safety material. Overall, 91 of 944 treated patients (9.7%) tested positive for HCV during the study period, of whom 90.1% had positive viremia results, demonstrating a high potential for contamination through blood contacts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The probability of HCV transmission from contact with contaminated blood after percutaneous injury ranged from 0.013 to 0.030; the high frequency of accidental blood exposure and high percentage of patients with HCV could generate a risk of exposure to HCV for radiologists who perform invasive procedures with frequent blood contact. The need to reinforce compliance with standard hygiene precautions is becoming crucial for medical and technical personnel working in these wards.
authors.affiliation: Inter-regional Center for Nosocomial Infection Control, Hospital European Georges Pompidou, Villejuif, France.
authors.forename: Nadège
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Baffoy-Fayard
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maugat
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sapoval
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cluzel
authors.forename: Alban
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Denys
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sellier
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Desruennes
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Legmann
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Thibault
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brücker
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Astagneau
mesh_terms: D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens; D002404:Catheterization; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional; D016602:Needlestick Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015995:Prevalence; D015642:Radiology, Interventional; D012306:Risk; D014766:Viremia / Q000453:epidemiology