title: Nosocomial transmission of hepatitis C virus during contrast-enhanced computed tomography scanning.
abstract: We have investigated two cases of acute hepatitis C that occurred in patients who underwent digestive endoscopy and contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scanning at two different centers. Investigations to identify the sources of infection included an on-site review of diagnostic procedures, interview of the involved healthcare staff, serological testing of the patients who underwent the procedures before and after the index cases and a molecular analysis of viral isolates from the patients and from potential viremic sources. In both cases, the epidemiological investigation identified a chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) carrier who had been subjected to CT-scanning immediately before the index patient. Genetic distance and molecular phylogenetic analyzes of HCV sequences showed a close relationship between the isolates from these carriers and those from the acute-hepatitis patients, strongly suggesting that patient-to-patient transmission had occurred during CT. This is the first report describing two well documented cases of HCV nosocomial patient-to-patient transmission during contrast-enhanced CT scanning.
authors: Liver Unit, Department of Medicine, Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain.
authors: Josep
authors: J
authors: Quer
authors: Juan-Ignacio
authors: JI
authors: Esteban
authors: Josep-Maria
authors: JM
authors: Sánchez
authors: Teresa
authors: T
authors: Otero
authors: Cristina
authors: C
authors: Rius
authors: Mar
authors: M
authors: Coll
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Cubero
authors: Gina
authors: G
authors: Moreno
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Gonzalez
authors: Josep
authors: J
authors: Vaque
authors: Rafael
authors: R
authors: Esteban
authors: Magda
authors: M
authors: Campins
authors: Helena
authors: H
authors: Pañella
authors: Jaume
authors: J
authors: Guardia
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Martell
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000635:transmission*; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D017757:Infectious Disease Transmission, Professional-to-Patient; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000009:adverse effects*