%0 Journal Article
%T Evaluation of an Isolation Program of Hepatitis C Virus Infected Hemodialysis Patients in Some Hemodialysis Centers in Egypt
%A Amin R. Soliman
%A Mohamed Momtaz Abd Elaziz
%A Mona I. El lawindi
%J ISRN Nephrology
%D 2013
%R 10.5402/2013/395467
%X Introduction. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Several studies demonstrated nosocomial transmission of HCV among HD patients. Aim. We aimed to evaluate the isolation program of HCV seropositive patients among a group of Egyptian haemodialysis patients to decrease the incidence of HCV seroconversion. Methods. One hundred and fourteen HCV seronegative patients who were receiving regular haemodialysis in different four haemodialysis units in Egypt. The first group included forty six patients on regular hemodialysis in two centers following strict isolation of the HCV seropositive patients, and the second group included sixty eight patients on regular hemodialysis in the other two centers not following this strict isolation. All these patients were followed up over a period of 36 months. Results. There was a significantly higher incidence of HCV seroconversion of patients on hemodialysis in units not following strict isolation of HCV seropositive patients (42.9%) than those on regular hemodialysis in units following strict isolation (14.8%). Conclusions. In HD units with a high prevalence of HCV+ patients, strict isolation of HCV+ patients in combination with implementation of universal prevention measures can limit the spread of HCV infection in HD patients. 1. Introduction Hepatitis C virus infection has been reported to be the most common blood born pathogen all over the world [1]. In Egypt, infection with HCV has become the most important public health problem nowadays with the overall prevalence of anti-HCV in Egypt in 1993 was 13.6% [2] Haemodialysis patients are at a high risk of infection by many blood borne pathogens. Some studies on haemodialysis patients in the United States reported an anti-HCV seroprevalence of 20% in adults and 18.5% among children [3]. However a higher prevalence was reported from Egypt 70¨C80% [4]. HCV infections among patients on haemodialysis were attributed to several risk factors including blood transfusion. A number of studies had revealed a significant correlation between the patients who received blood transfusion and the risk of acquiring HCV infection [5]. The nosocomial risk factors play an important role in HCV infections among patients on haemodialysis, these factors are related to dialysis machines and dialyzers which include dialyzers membranes and haemodialysis ultrafiltrate, reprocessing of dialyzers, and dialysis machines [6]. Haemodialysis staff was found also to be an important factor in transmission of HCV infections among
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/isrn.nephrology/2013/395467/