Petrarulo F, Maggi P, Sacchetti A, Pallotta G, Dagostino F, Basile C
Operative Unit of Nephrology, Altamura, Italy.
Nephron. 1992;61(3):302-3. doi: 10.1159/000186913.
It was the purpose of this study to evaluate the spread of HCV infection among the staff at Dialysis Units and among relatives of anti-HCV-positive hemodialysis patients. 122 health-care workers and 52 relatives were screened for presence of anti-HCV Ab. The control groups consisted of 100 health-care workers from other wards and 30 relatives of anti-HCV-negative subjects. 2.45% of the health-care staff and 5.8% of the relatives were found to be anti-HCV Ab carriers. None of the subjects in the control groups were positive. In conclusion, the results of this study indicate that there is a real possibility of HCV spread through occupational exposure although the corresponding percentage in less than that presumably due to within-the-family contagion by the virus.
