Risk factors for the acquisition of hepatitis C.
About 170 million people are estimated to be chronically infected with hepatitis C worldwide. Despite intense research efforts and considerable improvement of antiviral therapy sustained virological response can only be achieved in a minority of patients due to viral non-response or relapse, contraindications against therapy and high costs. Chronic hepatitis C is the leading cause for end-stage liver disease, hepatocellular carcinoma and liver transplantation in developed countries. To limit the incidence of new infections knowledge about potential transmission pathways and risk factors is crucial. This article aims to summarize recent advances in understanding transmission pathways and outlines future prevention strategies.
Bergk
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Department of Medicine, Charité Medical Center, Virchow-Hospital, Medical School of the Humboldt-University, Berlin, Germany. alexandra.bergk@charite.de
Berg
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Neumann
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D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections; D003428:Cross Infection; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications; D065227:Transfusion Reaction