Patient-to-patient transmission of hepatitis C virus through the use of multidose vials during general anesthesia.
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.
Germain
Jeanne-Marie
JM
Regional Coordinating Center for Nosocomial Infections Control, Pasteur Institute, Paris, France.
Carbonne
Anne
A
Thiers
Valérie
V
Gros
Hélène
H
Chastan
Sylvie
S
Bouvet
Elisabeth
E
Astagneau
Pascal
P
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*
D012367:RNA, Viral