[Occupational exposure to hepatitis C virus].
Occupational exposure to Hepatitis C virus is an area of growing concern due to a lack of prophylaxis and limited knowledge regarding prevalence in hospital environment. Between 1999 and 2003, a total of 128 occupational exposures to this virus were registered in Diego Paroissien Hospital, eight of which led to hepatitis (6.3%) and one case to serum conversion (0.8%). Currently there is no preventive therapy and great interest is focused on acute infection therapy the effectiveness of which is still controversial. This study reinforces the fact that adherence to the Universal Precautions is still the most important preventive measure for health care workers, and the most cost beneficial.
Warley
Eduardo
E
Hospital Paroissien, La Matanza, Buenos Aires. eduwarley@yahoo.com.ar
Desse
Javier
J
Szyld
Edgardo
E
Silva
Fernando Nieto
FN
Cetani
Silvia
S
Pereyra
Nancy
N
De Luca
Adriana
A
Gurtman
Alejandra
A
D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies