PROMED:-mail HEPATITIS C – POLAND: (GDANSK) NOSOCOMIAL OUTBREAK

[Michael Wishart]

A cross- post from PROMED mail. A reminder that even in developed countries the risk of infection with blood-borne viruses due to medical procedures is still very real. Take care with all injectable equipment; reuse is not a safe option!

HEPATITIS C – POLAND: (GDANSK) NOSOCOMIAL OUTBREAK

**************************************************

A ProMED-mail post

ProMED-mail is a program of the

International Society for Infectious Diseases

Nosocomial outbreak of hepatitis C in Gdansk

– ——————————————–

A local outbreak of hepatitis C virus infection has occurred in

Gdansk, Poland. The outbreak has been linked to a private medical

clinic performing radiological imaging. In the middle of January 2013,

3 patients were hospitalized in the Regional Hospital of Infectious

Diseases with the diagnosis of acute hepatitis C.

It was revealed that all 3 had undergone CT scans with contrast

administration on 5 Nov 2012, all in the same private medical imaging

facility.

The case was referred to the State Sanitary Inspection for

epidemiological investigation. Altogether, out of 25 patients who had

undergone contrast CT scan on 15 Nov [2012] in the aforementioned

center, 9 have been diagnosed with hepatitis C virus infection. The

medical imaging center is suspected of re-using contrast injector

syringes on multiple patients.

The outbreak is currently being investigated by the local Prosecutor’s

Office.

– —

Micha’ Gajewski MD

Gdansk

Poland

[ProMED-mail thanks Dr Gajewski for providing this information. An

unwelcome outcome for 9 of the 25 people who received radiological

scanning in a private clinic in Gdansk.

However, hepatitis C does not always require treatment. Depending on

the virus genome therapy with interferon and ribavirin may be

successful in most cases. New therapeutic agents, such as telaprevir

and boceprevir, have become available for treatment of hepatitis

caused by some genotypes of hepatitis c virus. Hopefully appropriate

treatment will be made available for these patients. – Mod.CP

A HealthMap/ProMED-mail map can be accessed at:

.]

Cheers
Michael

Michael Wishart
CNC Infection Control
Holy Spirit Northside Private Hospital
627 Rode Road, Chermside, Qld 4032
t: (07) 3326 3068 | f: (07) 3607 2226
e: Michael.Wishart@hsn.org.au
w:www.holyspiritnorthside.org.au
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