[Early diagnosis of hepatitis C transmission after needlestick injury]. / Frühzeitige Diagnose einer Hepatitis-C-Übertragung nach Nadelstichverletzung.

ABSTRACT

Occupational transmission of hepatitis C (HCV) is rare but has been repeatedly described in the published literature. Early diagnosis and therapy of acute hepatitis C is associated with an excellent chance of permanent HCV elimination. The majority of chronic HCV infections, however, lead to a slowly progressive hepatitis with associated morbidity and risk of liver cirrhosis. For this reason the need for antiviral therapy has to be evaluated immediately.