Hepatitis C virus among health care workers.

The purpose of our study was to describe the results of a seroprevalence survey for HCV antibody among health care workers at our center. 961 specimens were consecutively obtained under code and screened for anti-HCV by the second generation immunoblot assay (RIBA 2) and hepatitis B core antibody by CORAB test. After serum samples were tested, we reviewed demographic data and categorized four groups: intravenous drug abusers (IVDAs), blood recipients, health care workers and apparently healthy subjects. 51/97 (52.6%) IVDAs, 8/77 (10.4%) transfusion recipients, 12/472 (2.5%) health care workers and 8/285 (2.8%) apparently healthy subjects were anti-HCV positive. Furthermore dividing health care personnel by type of profession we found that surgeons have a higher seroprevalence (4.3%) compared to other professions. Therefore severe preventive standards are required for health care workers.

Hepatitis C virus infection in family members of chronic carriers.

To determine the transmission of hepatitis C in family members of chronic carriers we study the results of a HCV seroprevalence among spouses and children living together with patients affected by HCV related chronic liver disease. Seroprevalence of HCV antibodies and mean cohabitation time was determined among 54 index patients, their 54 spouses and 99 children. Twelve spouses (22.2%) and no children were anti-HCV positive, with an overall seroprevalence of 7.8%. Couples with both anti-HCV positive partners had a mean cohabitation time (31.8 +/- 10.4 years) higher compared to couples with only one anti-HCV positive partner (24.6 +/- 9.9 years) and children (19.1 +/- 10.2 years). Sexual transmission of HCV infection cannot be excluded and its prevalence is strongly associated to the length of cohabitation time.

Hepatitis C virus in prisoners.

The purpose of this study was to assess the epidemiology of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in prisoners and outpatients attending our center. 2205 specimens were consecutively obtained under code and screened for anti-HCV by the second generation RIBA test and Hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb) by CORAB test. After serum samples were tested, we reviewed demographic data and categorized four groups: Intravenous drug abusers (IVDAs), prisoners and apparently healthy subjects and warders. Anti-HCV prevalence was 59.4% in 613 IVDAs, 15.5% in 756 prisoners, 2.6% in 454 healthy subjects and 2.8% in 145 warders. These findings suggest that prisoners may be considered a group at increased risk for HCV infection.

[HCV and HBV infection in 3 communities in the Neapolitan area]. / Infezione da HCV ed HBV in tre comunita' dell' area napoletana.

Using the antibody to HCV and HBc (anti-HCV, anti-HBc), we studied the prevalence of Hepatitis C and B virus in three groups: intravenous drug abusers, subjects lodging in huts and elderly clergymen. Statistical analysis was carried out by chi-square and Fisher's exact tests. Our results show statistical significance for anti-HCV seroprevalence among the three groups, while anti-HBc doesn't differ. These preliminary data seem to show that the two viruses have different ways of transmission.

Seroprevalence of HBV and HCV markers among intravenous drug abusers and subjects affected by chronic active hepatitis.

In order to investigate the seroprevalence of HBV and HCV in neapolitan area, we studied blood specimens of 180 IVDAs, 115 CAH patients and 72 healthy subjects using hepatitis B core (anti-HBs) and hepatitis C antibody (anti-HCV). High frequency of anti-HBs (80.9%) and strong association with an unexpected seroprevalence of anti-HCV (67%) was found in CAH patients. Our study does not explain these results, but suggest either a possible inference between both viruses or that serum from CAH subjects contains a component that gives false positivity.