Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
10
pubmed:dateCreated
2007-11-1
pubmed:abstractText
The risk of infection after injury with a needle contaminated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is thought to be about 3%, but this assumption is mainly based on studies published in the 1990's, which were limited by small sample sizes and insensitive HCV-RNA assays. We therefore investigated needle injuries at the Hannover Medical School over a period of 6 years and performed a systematic review of the literature identifying 22 studies with a total of 6,956 injuries with HCV contaminated needles. Between 2000 and 2005, 1,431 occupational injuries were reported at our institution and two-thirds were needle injuries. Index patients were known to be HCV infected in 166 cases but there were no cases of HCV seroconversion during follow-up. Analysis of published data showed seroconversion rates of 0-10.3% with a mean of 0.75% (52/6,956). The risk of acute HCV infection was lower in Europe with 0.42% compared to Eastern Asia with 1.5% of cases where an HCV viremia was reported during follow-up. In summary, the risk of acquiring an HCV infection after a needlestick injury is lower than frequently reported. Worldwide differences in HCV seroconversion rates suggest that genetic factors might provide some level of natural resistance against HCV. Future studies should address not only the frequency of acute hepatitis but also factors associated with a higher risk of becoming HCV infected.
pubmed:language
ger
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Oct
pubmed:issn
0020-9554
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
48
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
1165-72
pubmed:dateRevised
2008-11-21
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed-meshheading:17684714-Carrier State, pubmed-meshheading:17684714-Cross-Cultural Comparison, pubmed-meshheading:17684714-Cross-Sectional Studies, pubmed-meshheading:17684714-Europe, pubmed-meshheading:17684714-Follow-Up Studies, pubmed-meshheading:17684714-Genome, Viral, pubmed-meshheading:17684714-Hepacivirus, pubmed-meshheading:17684714-Hepatitis B Surface Antigens, pubmed-meshheading:17684714-Hepatitis C, pubmed-meshheading:17684714-Hepatitis C Antibodies, pubmed-meshheading:17684714-Humans, pubmed-meshheading:17684714-Incidence, pubmed-meshheading:17684714-Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional, pubmed-meshheading:17684714-Needlestick Injuries, pubmed-meshheading:17684714-Occupational Diseases, pubmed-meshheading:17684714-Polymerase Chain Reaction, pubmed-meshheading:17684714-Risk Assessment
pubmed:year
2007
pubmed:articleTitle
[Injuries from needles contaminated with hepatitis C virus: how high is the risk of seroconversion for medical personnel really?].
pubmed:affiliation
Abteilung für Gastroenterologie, Hepatologie und Endokrinologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Str 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, English Abstract, Review