Prevention | Iatrogenic Infection | Incidence | Global HCV | Travel to Egypt | HCV Virus | Home |
1. Kamel, M.A., Ghaffar, Y.A., Wasef, M.A., Wright, M., Clark,
L.C., Miller, F.D., 1992. High HCV prevalence in Egyptian Blood donors. Lancet.
340(8816): p. 427.
The
investigators were lead by Dr. Moamena Kamel, a professor of clinical pathology
at the
2. Christina Frank, Mostafa K Mohamed, G Thomas Strickland,
Daniel Lavanchy, Ray R Arthur, Laurence S Magder, Taha El Khoby, Yehia
Abdel-Wahab, El Said Aly Ohn, Wagida Anwar, Ismail Sallam. 2000. The role of
parenteral antischistosomal therapy in the spread of hepatitis C virus in
This
study suggested that the epidemic of HCV in
3. M. Karmochkine, F Carrat, O Dos Santos, and others. A case-control
study of risk factors for hepatitis C infection in patients with unexplained
routes of infection. Journal of Viral Hepatitis 13(11): 775-782.
November 2006.
see: http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/hep_c/news/2007/121206_c.html
Summarized Results from this
report are:
Among the 66 items
considered, multivariate analysis identified 15 independent risk factors for
HCV infection:
Iatrogenic inpatient
exposures
admission to a medical facility (OR 2.1);
digestive endoscopy (OR 1.9);
admission to a surgical ward (OR 1.7);
surgical abortion (OR 1.7).>
Out-patient treatments:
Cutaneous ulcer or wound care (OR 10.1);
diathermy (OR 3.0);
gamma globulin administration (OR 1.7);
intravenous injections (OR = 1.7);
varicose vein
sclerotherapy (OR 1.6);
acupuncture (OR 1.5);
intramuscular injections (OR
1.4).http://www2.hawaii.edu/%7Edewolfe/Iatrogenic.html
Lifestyle factors:
intranasal cocaine use (OR 4.5);
engaging in contact sports (OR 2.3);
beauty treatments (OR 2.0);
professional pedicure or manicure (OR 1.7).
These factors explained 73% of community-acquired HCV infections.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the authors
wrote, "for patients with unexplained routes of HCV infection, our data
incriminate previously unidentified risk factors (abortions, some
dermatological procedures, outpatient injections, contact sports, beauty
treatments, professional pedicure/manicure) and confirm those already
recognized (hospitalization, digestive endoscopy, acupuncture and intra-nasal
cocaine use)."
These results suggest
that prevention education materials and programs should include a broader range
of exposures and activities that may put individuals at risk for contracting
HCV. They also emphasize the need for universal precautions and sterile
procedures in medical settings.
This publication was an
important contribution to understanding HCV transmission in
Rebuttal:
The
conclusion is that HCV transmission is ongoing in
This report also suggests that
there is transmission of HCV within household or family members. This is an
unexpected and unlikely finding. The transmission of HCV virus is low even when
exposed directly to for example a needle contaminated with blood from a person
known to have HCV viremia. We know this from studies of accidental needle stick
injury.
5. Saleh, DA et al. Incidence and risk factors for hepatitis C
infection in a cohort of women in rural
This very recent report estimates
incidence of HCV in rural women at 0.5% per year.
6. El-Zanaty F, Way A. Egypt Demographic and
Health Survey 2008. Egyptian: Ministry of Health. El-Zanaty and Associates, and
Macro International.
This study
completed the first representative national sample of HCV antibody and HCV
RNA. The final estimated prevalence of HCV antibody was 14.7%. See Figure 1