Incidence of hepatitis c virus seroconversion among hemodialysis patients in the Nile Delta of Egypt: A single-center study.

Egypt has the highest worldwide prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, caused in part by nosocomial transmission. Patients on hemodialysis (HD) are at especially high risk of infection. We aimed to estimate the incidence of seroconversion among HCV-negative patients undergoing regular HD at a unit in a large public hospital in the Nile Delta of Egypt, which implements the Egyptian Ministry of Health guidelines for infection control, and an isolation policy for hepatitis-positive patients. We also assessed the adherence to infection control practices and evaluated nurses and physicians' knowledge and attitude toward infection control procedures. Records of HCV-negative patients undergoing regular HD at the unit from August 2008 to August 2010 were reviewed retrospectively for data on HCV status. Patients were then followed up until September 2011, when polymerase chain reaction was performed for all patients. Infection control practices were evaluated by four checklists applied monthly and analyzed by control charts. Nurses and physicians' knowledge and attitudes toward infection control were assessed by interview questionnaires. Of 60 patients followed up, there was one case of HCV seroconversion giving an incidence rate of 0.676/100 person-years of follow-up (95% confidence interval: 0.017-3.76). There were no cases of hepatitis B virus seroconversion. The mean scores of all the infection control practices' checklists were very high and generally remained above the lower control limit over the 12-month period. Physicians and nurses achieved very high scores on knowledge and attitude on infection control (mean score >95%). This public facility had a low seroconversion rate and high adherence to infection control guidelines.

Prolactin and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate: are they related to the severity of chronic urticaria?

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Elevated prolactin and reduced dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) levels are associated with autoimmune diseases. A limited number of studies have investigated these hormones in chronic urticaria (CU). The autologous serum skin test (ASST) reaction has also been linked to autoimmune diseases, and a positive reaction is usually associated with a more severe disease. We aimed to compare serum prolactin and DHEA-S levels between female CU patients with positive and negative ASST reactions and healthy controls. METHODS: The study included 30 female CU patients with a positive ASST reaction, 30 female CU patients with a negative ASST reaction, and 30 healthy female controls. All identifiable causes of urticaria were excluded. Serum prolactin and DHEA-S levels were measured in all subjects. RESULTS: Prolactin was significantly higher among ASST positive patients than among ASST negative patients and controls but did not differ between ASST negative patients or controls. Higher prolactin levels were associated with increasing disease severity among ASST positive patients. DHEA-S levels did not differ between ASST positive or negative patients but were significantly lower among both patient subgroups than controls. DHEA-S levels did not differ according to the severity of disease among either of the patient subgroups. DHEA-S levels did not correlate with prolactin among any group. CONCLUSION: We demonstrate for the first time a possible role for prolactin in ASST-positive CU patients and its association with disease severity. We recommend larger prospective studies to assess changes in prolactin and DHEA-S levels after complete disease remission.