title: Blood-borne viruses in the haemodialysis-dependent population attending Top End Northern Territory facilities 2000-2009.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the incidence and prevalence of blood-borne viruses (BBV) including: hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and human T-cell leukaemia virus type-1 (HTLV) in the haemodialysis-dependent population of the Top End of the Northern Territory (TENT).
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed the serology of BBV in a longitudinal fashion in the haemodialysis-dependent population treated in the TENT of Australia from 2000 to 2009 inclusive. HBV, HCV, HIV and HTLV serology on commencement of dialysis and at exit or January 2010, whichever was earlier, as well as demographic details were collected. Patients with a change in serological status had all serology reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four-hundred and forty patients were included in the analysis. Of these, 84.3% were Indigenous and 55.4% female, with a median age of 50 (IQR 43-59) years at the commencement of haemodialysis. Evidence of past HBV infection was documented in 42.7% and 8.9% were hepatitis B surface antigen-positive. Positive serology for HTLV was documented in 2.2%, 1.6% were hepatitis C antibody-positive and no individual was HIV-positive. Three patients had a definite change in their HBV serology over time; this equates to an absolute seroconversion risk of 0.1 per 100 person years or 0.0006 per dialysis episode.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this cohort, there was a high rate of past and current hepatitis B infection but low rates of seroconversion while on haemodialysis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. janen.davies@nt.gov.au
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: Zulfikar
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jabbar
authors.forename: Fizza
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gagan
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Baird
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015876:Northern Territory / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000208:ethnology / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers