title: Patient-to-patient transmission of hepatitis C virus through the use of multidose vials during general anesthesia.
abstract: A cluster of four patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection was identified in a surgery clinic. Molecular characterization revealed close homology between viruses. This cluster was related to unsafe injection practices through multidose vials and reused materials. Among 796 patients potentially exposed to and screened for HCV, no other cluster was identified.
authors.affiliation: Regional Coordinating Center for Nosocomial Infections Control, Pasteur Institute, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Jeanne-Marie
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Germain
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carbonne
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Thiers
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gros
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chastan
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bouvet
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Astagneau
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000379:methods*; D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D017743:Equipment Reuse; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D006757:Hospital Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013594:Syringes / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral