Evaluation of a strategy for identification of hepatitis C virus carriers in outpatient and emergency units: contribution to the microelimination of hepatitis C in Brazil
Braz. j. infect. dis
; 25(2): 101546, 2021. tab
Article
in En
| LILACS
| ID: biblio-1278564
Responsible library:
BR1.1
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Introduction:
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection continues to be an important public health problem worldwide. Despite the availability of drugs that promote the cure of infection in more than 95% of cases, the identification of HCV carriers remains a major challenge.Objective:
To evaluate a strategy for identifying HCV carriers based on combined criteria screening in emergency units and specialty outpatient clinics of a tertiary hospital and among older adults (≥45 years), both suggested as efficient in epidemiological studies.Methods:
A cross-sectional, analytical and descriptive study was conducted on individuals of both sexes, aged 45 years and older, attending the emergency department and specialty outpatient clinics of a University Hospital in São Paulo, Brazil, from January 2016 to June 2018. After giving formal consent, the patients were submitted to a standardized interview and rapid testing for the identification of HCV antibodies (SD BIOLINE® anti-HCV).Results:
A total of 606 adult patients (62% women and 37% men) were evaluated. The mean age was 62 ± 10 years. Four positive tests were identified, with confirmation by conventional serology and HCV-RNA determination. Thus, the prevalence of HCV identified in the sample was 0.66%. All patients had a history of risk factors for infection.Conclusion:
The strategies of birth-cohort testing and screening in emergency medical services for the identification of HCV carries, both suggested in the literature as efficient for the diagnosis of hepatitis C, resulted in a low rate of HCV infection. These findings highlight the magnitude of the challenge of identifying asymptomatic HCV carriers in Brazil.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
LILACS
Main subject:
Hepatitis C
/
Hepacivirus
Type of study:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Prevalence_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Country/Region as subject:
America do sul
/
Brasil
Language:
En
Journal:
Braz. j. infect. dis
Journal subject:
DOENCAS TRANSMISSIVEIS
Year:
2021
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Brazil