title: Prospective study of nosocomial transmission of hepatitis C in a Swedish gastroenterology unit .
abstract: A prospective study of incident hepatitis C in 515 gastroenterology patients was conducted by follow-up sampling at 3-6 months after admission to the gastroenterology unit to test for antibodies to hepatitis C virus and for hepatitis C virus RNA. Universal precautions were implemented, and the use of multidose vials had been banned in this unit. Despite 5,964 exposure-days for several risk factors associated with nosocomial hepatitis C virus transmission, no incident case of hepatitis C occurred.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine (H.V., L.R.),University of Lund, Malmö University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden. hans.verbaan@med.lu.se
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Verbaan
authors.forename: Vilma
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Molnegren
authors.forename: Inez
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pentmo
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rubin
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Widell
mesh_terms: D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005762:Gastroenterology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D006757:Hospital Units; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D016635:Universal Precautions
chemical_list: D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral