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BMC Infectious Diseases 2001 1:8
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Date Posted: Wed, August 29 2001, 15:14:09 PDT
In reply to:
University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB Liver Center),
's message, "Multiple risk factors common for HCV infection" on Tue, August 28 2001, 19:11:40 PDT
TITLE: Risk Factors for Acquisition of Hepatitis C Virus Infection: A
Background: Transmission of hepatitis C vims (HCV) is strongly associated
with use of contaminated blood products and injection drugs. Other
"non-parental" modes of transmission including sexual activity have been
increasingly recognized. We examined risk factors for acquiring HCV in
patients who were referred to two tertiary care centers and enrolled in an
antiviral therapy protocol.
Methods: Interviews of 148 patients were conducted apart from their
physician evaluation using a structured questionnaire covering demographics
and risk factors for HCV acquisition.
Results: Risk factors (blood products, injection/intranasal drugs, razor
blades/ toothbrushes, body/ear piercing, occupational exposure, sexual
activity) were identified in 141 (95.3%) of participants; 23 (15.5%) had
one (most frequently blood or drug exposure), 41 (27.7%) had two, and 84
(53.4%) had more than two risk factors. No patient reported sexual activity
as a sole risk factor. Body piercing accounted for a high number of
exposures in women. Men were more likely to have exposure to street drugs
but less exposure to blood products than women. Blood product exposure was
less common in younger than older HCV patients.
Conclusion: One and often multiple risk factors could be identified in
nearly all HCV-infected patients seen in a referral practice. None named
sexual transmission as the sole risk factor. The development of a more
complete profile of factors contributing to transmission of HCV infection
may assist in clinical and preventive efforts. The recognition of the
potential presence of multiple risk factors may have important implications
in the approach to HCV surveillance, and particularly the use of
hierarchical algorithms in the study of risk factors.
AUTHORS: Leland J Yee, Heidi L Weiss, Rebecca G Lananer, Jorge Herrera,
Richard A Kaslow, Dirk J van Leeuwen
SOURCE:
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