Summary
The prevalence of HCV antibodies was assessed in 407 health-care workers and in 253 control subjects by means of immunoassays based on recombinant antigens. The seroprevalence in the study group was fairly low (1.2%) and not statistically different from that of controls (0.8%). The relation of HBV and HCV infections was evaluated in 83 health-care workers and in 82 controls: in both groups anti-HCV positivity was weakly related (p<0.05) to the HBV infection. HCV infection was associated with working in high risk wards (4/5 cases) and with report of accidental needle pricks (4/5 cases). As evaluated by means of the available markers, HCV infections in health-care workers seem to be rare.
Zusammenfassung
Eine Untersuchung zur Prävalenz von Anti-HCV-Antikörpern wurde bei 407 in Krankenhäusern Beschäftigten und 253 Kontrollpersonen mittels Immunoassay mit rekombinanten Antigenen durchgeführt. Zwischen Studien- und Kontrollgruppe ergaben sich keine statistisch signifikanten Unterschiede in den Prävalenzraten von 1,2 beziehungsweise 0,8%. Bei 83 Ärzten und Pflegepersonen und 82 Kontrollpersonen wurde die Assoziation von HBV- und HCV-Infektionen geprüft. In beiden Gruppen bestand eine schwache Korrelation zwischen anti-HCV-Positivität und durchgemachter HBV-Infektion (p<0,05). Die HCV-Infektion war assoziiert mit der Arbeit auf Stationen mit hohem Infektionsrisiko (4/5 Fällen) und mit versehentlichen Nadelstichen (4/5). Die Ergebnisse der Untersuchung mit derzeit verfügbaren Markern läßt auf eine geringe Rate von HCV-Infektionen bei Krankenhauspersonal schließen.
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Campello, C., Majori, S., Poli, A. et al. Prevalence of HCV antibodies in health-care workers from northern Italy. Infection 20, 224–226 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02033064
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02033064