Travel-associated acquisition of hepatitis C virus infection in patients receiving haemodialysis.

Travel-associated acquisition of hepatitis C virus infection in patients receiving haemodialysis. Research Abstract Details 

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Travel-associated acquisition of hepatitis C virus infection in patients receiving haemodialysis. Abstract Text:

Abdul Ghafur,Muhammad Raza,Wendy Labbett,Anuradha Chawla,Colette Smith,Siew Lin Ngui,Andrew Davenport,Anna Maria Geretti,

BACKGROUND: It has been proposed that hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing maintenance haemodialysis may lack HCV antibody (anti-HCV) despite chronic HCV viraemia. This carries important implications for the design of surveillance policies. METHODS: To characterize the prevalence of antibody-negative/RNA-positive HCV infection, patients attending seven haemodialysis units underwent anti-HCV testing using a third-generation assay and HCV RNA testing using real-time PCR. RESULTS: At screening, anti-HCV prevalence was 12/360 (3.3%; 95% CI 1.7-5.8%); 7/12 (58.3%) anti-HCV positive samples were HCV RNA positive. Among anti-HCV-negative samples, 2/348 (0.6%; 95% CI 0.2-2.1%) tested HCV RNA positive (genotype 1a). Retrospective testing of stored sera dated the infections to a period of holiday in the Indian subcontinent. The two infections were unrelated by HCV-NS5B sequencing. Only one of the two newly infected persons showed raised transaminases. Both developed anti-HCV within 8-13 weeks of follow-up. Prospective surveillance of travellers to resource-limited countries returning to the units showed a HCV incidence of 4/153 travel episodes (2.6%; 95% CI 0.7-6.6%) among 131 persons (3.1%; 95% CI 0.8-7.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Among haemodialysis patients in the United Kingdom, antibody-negative/RNA-positive HCV status is associated with newly acquired infection, rather than lack of antibody responses in chronic HCV infection. There is a significant risk of HCV infection associated with travel to resource-limited countries. Given that transaminase levels may be normal, HCV RNA testing is recommended in patients re-entering a dialysis unit following haemodialysis in settings where suboptimal infection control policies pose a risk of exposure to blood-borne viruses.

Travel-associated acquisition of hepatitis C virus infection in patients receiving haemodialysis. Publishing Authors By Initials

A Ghafur,M Raza,W Labbett,A Chawla,C Smith,SL Ngui,A Davenport,AM Geretti,

For similar human activities: travel research abstracts see: human activities: travel research

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Travel-associated acquisition of hepatitis C virus infection in patients receiving haemodialysis. Journal Published:

PUBLICATION TYPE: Journal Article

Journal: Nephrology, dialysis, transplantation : official p

VOLUME: 22

Page Numbers: 2640-4

Journal Abbreviation: Nephrol. Dial. Transplant.

ISSN: 0931-0509

DAY: 29

MONTH: 05

YEAR: 2007

Travel-associated acquisition of hepatitis C virus infection in patients receiving haemodialysis. Information

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LANGUAGE: eng

NlmUniqueID: 8706402

Travel-associated acquisition of hepatitis C virus infection in patients receiving haemodialysis. Keywords Mesh Terms:

KEYWORDS: Travel

MESH TERMS: epidemiology

Chemical & Substance for Abstract: Travel-associated acquisition of hepatitis C virus infection in patients receiving haemodialysis. Information

Substance Name: DNA, Viral

Registry Number: 0

Grant and Affiliation Information for Travel-associated acquisition of hepatitis C virus infection in patients receiving haemodialysis.

AFFILIATION: Department of Virology, Royal Free Hospital and Royal Free & University College Medical School, Rowland Hill Street, London NW3 2PF, UK.

Country: England

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MEDLINETA: Nephrol Dial Transplant

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