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Management of Occupational Exposures to Hepatitis C Virus Current Practice and Controversies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Francisco Alvarado-Ramy ,
Miriam J. Alter ,
William Bower ,
David K. Henderson ,
Annette H. Sohn ,
Ronda L. Sinkowitz-Cochran  and
William R. Jarvis
Francisco Alvarado-Ramy*
Affiliation:
Hospital Infections Program, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Public Health Service, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, Georgia Epidemic Intelligence Service, Division of Applied Public Health Training, Epidemiology Program Office, CDC, Public Health Service, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, Georgia
Miriam J. Alter
Affiliation:
Hepatitis Branch, Division of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases, CDC, Atlanta, Georgia
William Bower
Affiliation:
Hepatitis Branch, Division of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases, CDC, Atlanta, Georgia
David K. Henderson
Affiliation:
Office of the Director, Warren G. Magnuson Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
Annette H. Sohn
Affiliation:
Hospital Infections Program, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Public Health Service, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, Georgia Epidemic Intelligence Service, Division of Applied Public Health Training, Epidemiology Program Office, CDC, Public Health Service, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, Georgia
Ronda L. Sinkowitz-Cochran
Affiliation:
Hospital Infections Program, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Public Health Service, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, Georgia
William R. Jarvis
Affiliation:
Hospital Infections Program, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Public Health Service, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, Georgia
*
Hospital Infections Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, Mail Stop E-68, Atlanta, GA 30333
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Abstract

Unlike hepatitis B virus and human immunodeficiency virus, there currently are no immunization or chemoprophylactic interventions available to prevent infection after an occupational exposure to hepatitis C virus (HCV). A “Reality Check” session was held at the 4th Decennial International Conference on Nosocomial and Healthcare-Associated Infections to gather information on current practices related to management of occupational exposures to HCV, generate discussion on controversial issues, and identify areas for future research. Infection control professionals in attendance were knowledgeable in most issues addressed regarding the management of occupational exposures to HCV. Areas of controversy included the use of antiviral therapy early in the course of HCV infection and the appropriate administrative management of an HCV-infected healthcare worker.

Type
From the 4th Decennial International Conference
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 22 , Issue 1 , January 2001 , pp. 53 - 55
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2001

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References

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