European study on epidemiology and the management of HCV in the haemodialysis population--Part 1: centre policy

Haemodialysis patients are known to be at risk of infection of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) through nosocomial spread. This paper presents the first part of a study on epidemiology and management of HCV, in a haemodialysis population, conducted by the EDTNA/ERCA Research Board. Data on HCV management and...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inEDTNA-ERCA journal Vol. 30; no. 2; p. 84
Main Authors Zampieron, Alessandra, Jayasekera, Heather, Elseviers, Monique, Lindley, Elizabeth, De Vos, Jean-Yves, Visser, Ronald, Harrington, Maurice
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Belgium 01.04.2004
Subjects
Ambulatory Care Facilities
Europe - epidemiology
Hemodialysis Units, Hospital
Hepatitis C - epidemiology
Hepatitis C - prevention & control
Humans
Infection Control - methods
Renal Dialysis - methods
Europe
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Summary:Haemodialysis patients are known to be at risk of infection of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) through nosocomial spread. This paper presents the first part of a study on epidemiology and management of HCV, in a haemodialysis population, conducted by the EDTNA/ERCA Research Board. Data on HCV management and infection control procedures was collected from 136 European centres using an electronic questionnaire. The study identifies a number of possible risk factors for transmission of the virus: failing to disinfect devices between patients, sharing of single-use vials to prepare drugs or infusions for different patients, inadequate sterilisation or cleaning of machines between dialysis sessions, unsatisfactory environmental cleaning and distance less than one metre between chairs.
ISSN:1019-083X
DOI:10.1111/j.1755-6686.2004.tb00341.x