Document 0797
 DOCN  M9650797
 TI    Risk of hepatitis C seroconversion after occupational exposures in
       health care workers. Italian Study Group on Occupational Risk of HIV and
       Other Bloodborne Infections.
 DT    9605
 AU    Puro V; Petrosillo N; Ippolito G; Centro di Riferimento AIDS, L.
       Spallanzani Hospital, Rome, Italy.
 SO    Am J Infect Control. 1995 Oct;23(5):273-7. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/96126293
 AB    BACKGROUND: To determine the incidence of hepatitis C virus (HCV)
       seroconversion, health care workers reporting an occupational exposure
       with blood or other risk-prone body materials from a patient known to be
       seropositive for HCV antibody were enrolled. METHODS: HCV seroconversion
       within 6 months of a reported exposure was assessed by second-generation
       enzyme immunoassay and immunoblot assay. RESULTS: From January 1992
       through December 1993, 331 (51%) hollow-bore needlesticks, 105 (16.5%)
       suture needle or sharp object injuries, 85 (13%) mucous membrane
       contaminations, and 125 (19.5%) skin contaminations were reported. Four
       HCV seroconversions were observed after hollow-bore needlesticks (1.2%;
       95% CI 0.3% to 3.0%); no seroconversions occurred after other routes of
       exposure. Blood-filled needlesticks and source patient coinfection with
       HIV appeared to be associated with a higher risk of seroconversion.
       CONCLUSIONS: The risk of HCV seroconversion after occupational exposure
       appears to be low but is not negligible. Aggressive implementation of
       universal precautions is important for preventing risk-prone exposure,
       but safer devices are also needed.
 DE    Adolescence  Adult  Aged  Blood-Borne Pathogens  *Disease Transmission,
       Patient-to-Professional/STATISTICS & NUMER  DATA  Female  Hepatitis
       C/EPIDEMIOLOGY/IMMUNOLOGY/*TRANSMISSION  Hepatitis C
       Antibodies/BIOSYNTHESIS/*BLOOD  Human  Immunoblotting  Immunoenzyme
       Techniques  Incidence  Italy/EPIDEMIOLOGY  Male  Middle Age
       Occupational Exposure/*STATISTICS & NUMER DATA  *Personnel, Hospital
       Risk Factors  Support, Non-U.S. Gov't  JOURNAL ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).