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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, France[email protected]

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

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