The spread of viral hepatitis in Italian dialysis units.

In order to evaluate the spread of viral hepatitis to dialysis patients and staff, 83 out of the 134 dialysis units operating in Italy at present were surveyed. The results were statistically evaluated. Of the 81 Italian centres surveyed, 66 were affected by viral hepatitis. There were 450 cases of infection among patients on regular dialysis treatment (9.7% of all dialysed patients). Of these 450, 163 had icteric viral hepatitis (116 HBsAg positive), 145 has non icteric hepatitis (100 HBsAg positive) and 142 were HBsAg carriers. The mortality rate among the dialysis patients with hepatitis was 9.1% with death occurring most frequently in icteric cases. Of the 133 cases of viral hepatitis observed among medical and nursing staff, 103 of these were HBsAg positive. Moreover, there was a higher risk of hepatitis infection observed in patients on regular dialysis treatment by multi-patient central system plate dialysers, in carriers of exteriorized arteriovenus shunt in patients who were submitted to frequent dialysis sessions and haemotransfusions.