Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dk4vv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T06:46:40.920Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Patient-to-Patient Transmission of Hepatitis C Virus Through the Use of Multidose Vials During General Anesthesia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 June 2016

Jeanne-Marie Germain
Affiliation:
Regional Coordinating Center for Nosocomial Infections Control, Paris, France
Anne Carbonne*
Affiliation:
Regional Coordinating Center for Nosocomial Infections Control, Paris, France
Valérie Thiers
Affiliation:
National Reference Center for Viral Hepatitis B & C, Pasteur Institute, Paris, France
Hélène Gros
Affiliation:
Regional Coordinating Center for Nosocomial Infections Control, Paris, France
Sylvie Chastan
Affiliation:
Departmental Direction of Sanitary and Social Affairs of Eure, Evreux, France
Elisabeth Bouvet
Affiliation:
Regional Coordinating Center for Nosocomial Infections Control, Paris, France
Pascal Astagneau
Affiliation:
Regional Coordinating Center for Nosocomial Infections Control, Paris, France Department of Public Health, Pierre et Marie Curie University, Paris, France
*
Institut Biomédical des Cordeliers (Esc. J), 15, rue de l'Ecole de Medecine, 75006 Paris, Franceacarbonn@bhdc.jussieu.fr

Abstract

A duster of four patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection was identified in a surgery clinic. Molecular characterization revealed close homology between viruses. This cluster was related to unsafe injection practices through multidose vials and reused materials. Among 796 patients potentially exposed to and screened for HCV, no other cluster was identified.

Type
Concise Communication
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2005

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Esteban, JI, Gomez, J, Martell, M, et al.Transmission of hepatitis C virus by a cardiac surgeon. N Engl J Med 1996;334:555560.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
2.Ross, RS, Viazov, S, Gross, T, Hofmann, F, Seipp, HM, Roggendorf, M. Transmission of hepatitis C virus from a patient to an anesthesiology assistant to five patients. N Engl J Med 2000;343:18511854.Google Scholar
3.Delarocque-Astagneau, E, Baffoy, N, Thiers, V, et al.Outbreak of hepatitis C virus infection in a hemodialysis unit: potential transmission by the hemodialysis machine? Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2002;23:328334.Google Scholar
4.Bronowicki, JP, Venard, V, Botte, C, et al.Patient-to-patient transmission of hepatitis C virus during colonoscopy. N Engl J Med 1997;337:237240.Google Scholar
5.Chant, K, Kociuba, K, Munro, R, et al.Investigation of possible patient-to-patient transmission of hepatitis C in a hospital. N S W Public Health Bull 1994;5:4751.Google Scholar
6.Krause, G, Trepka, MJ, Whisenhunt, RS, et al.Nosocomial transmission of hepatitis C virus associated with the use of multidose saline vials. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2003;24:122127.Google Scholar
7.Tallis, GF, Ryan, GM, Lambert, SB, et al.Evidence of patient-to-patient transmission of hepatitis C virus through contaminated intravenous anaesthetic ampoules. J Viral Hepat 2003;10:234239.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8.Comstock, RD, Mallonee, S, Fox, JL, et al.A large nosocomial outbreak of hepatitis C and hepatitis B among patients receiving pain remediation treatments. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2004;25:576583.Google Scholar
9.Widell, A, Christensson, B, Wiebe, T, et al.Epidemiologic and molecular investigation of outbreaks of hepatitis C virus infection on a pediatric oncology service. Ann Intern Med 1999;130:130134.Google Scholar
10.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Update: universal precautions for prevention of transmission of human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, and other bloodborne pathogens in healthcare settings. MMWR 1988;37:377378.Google Scholar
11.French Society for Anesthesiology and Intensive Care. Recommendations About Hygiene in Anesthesia [in French], Paris: French Society for Anesthesiology and Intensive Care; 1997. Available at www.sfar. org.Google Scholar