title: Outbreak of hepatitis C virus infections at an outpatient hemodialysis facility: the importance of infection control competencies.
abstract: In the United States, the prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection among patients treated in hemodialysis facilities is five times higher than among the general population. This study investigated eight new hepatitis C virus infections among patients treated at an outpatient hemodialysis facility. Epidemiologic investigation and viral sequencing demonstrated that transmission likely occurred between patients typically treated during the same or consecutive shifts at the same or a nearby station. Several infection control breaches were observed including lapses involving the preparation, handling, and administration of parenteral medications. Improved infection control education and training for all hemodialysis facility staff is an important component of assuring adherence to appropriate procedures and preventing future outbreaks.
authors.affiliation: Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA. akrao@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Agam K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Luckman
authors.forename: Matthew E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Wise
authors.forename: Taranisia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: MacCannell
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Blythe
authors.forename: Yulin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Guoliang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Drobeniuc
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Noble-Wang
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Arduino
authors.forename: Nicola D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Priti R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Lucy E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008396:Maryland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology