Hepatitis C virus infection among multi-transfused patients and personnel in haemodialysis units in central Islamic Republic of Iran

East Mediterr Health J. 2012 Mar;18(3):227-35. doi: 10.26719/2012.18.3.227.

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was made of the prevalence of HCV and associated risk factors in 382 multi-transfused patients and haemodialysis staff in Yadz province in 2006. Of those tested for anti-HCV antibodies, 50.6% of patients with inherited bleeding disorders, 11.8% with thalassaemia and 5.0% undergoing haemodialysis were seropositive. First transfusion before 1996 (when blood donor screening started) was the common risk factor associated with HCV infection. Only 1/52 haemodialysis staff members was HCV infected (an intravenous drug user). Infection control measures were poor in all centres. In patients with inherited bleeding disorders genotype 1 (65.0%) was the predominant followed by genotype 3 (35.0%). The results provide evidence that blood donor screening and use of virus-inactivated factor concentrates have lowered the risk of HCV infection among multi-transfused patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Blood Transfusion / standards
  • Blood Transfusion / trends
  • Child
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Hematologic Diseases / complications*
  • Hematologic Diseases / genetics
  • Hematologic Diseases / therapy
  • Hemodialysis Units, Hospital / statistics & numerical data
  • Hepatitis C / epidemiology
  • Hepatitis C / etiology
  • Hepatitis C / prevention & control*
  • Humans
  • Iran / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Occupational Diseases / epidemiology
  • Occupational Diseases / etiology
  • Occupational Diseases / prevention & control
  • Prevalence
  • Renal Dialysis / adverse effects*
  • Renal Dialysis / statistics & numerical data
  • Risk Factors
  • Substance Abuse, Intravenous / complications
  • Transfusion Reaction*
  • Workforce
  • Young Adult