Health care workers as source of hepatitis B and C virus transmission.
Transmission of hepatitis B and C from health care workers to patients remains rare in developed medical care systems but may be more common in systems that are still developing. Since the 1970s, at least 69 health care workers infected with hepatitis B or C have been implicated in transmission of their infection. This likely underestimates the magnitude of the problem. In this article, risk factors associated with transmission are reviewed and infection prevention and control practices outlined. Management of infected providers is also discussed. National guidelines are compared, highlighting different countries' approaches to this complex challenge.
Carlson
Abigail L
AL
Department of Hospital Epidemiology and Infection Control, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, 425 Osler, 600 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
Perl
Trish M
TM
D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D017007:Duty to Warn; D006282:Health Personnel; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; D017757:Infectious Disease Transmission, Professional-to-Patient / Q000517:prevention & control; D008403:Mass Screening; D012307:Risk Factors; D014611:Vaccination
D004279:DNA, Viral; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens