National Center for Preparedness, Detection, and Control of Infectious Diseases, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Am J Kidney Dis. 2010 Aug;56(2):371-8. doi: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2010.01.025. Epub 2010 Jun 8.
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the most common chronic blood-borne infection in the United States; the prevalence in maintenance hemodialysis patients substantially exceeds that in the general population. In hemodialysis patients, HCV infection has been associated with increased occurrence of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma and increased mortality. Injection drug use and receipt of blood transfusions before 1992 has accounted for most prevalent HCV infections in the United States. However, HCV transmission among patients undergoing hemodialysis has been documented frequently. Outbreak investigations have implicated lapses in infection control practices as the cause of HCV infections. Preventing these infections is an emerging priority for renal care providers, public health agencies, and regulators. Adherence to recommended infection control practices is effective in preventing HCV transmission in hemodialysis facilities. In addition, adoption of routine screening to facilitate the detection of incident HCV infections and hemodialysis-related transmission is an essential component of patient safety and infection prevention efforts. This article describes the current epidemiology of HCV infection in US maintenance hemodialysis patients and prevention practices to decrease its incidence and transmission.
丙型肝炎病毒（HCV）感染是美国最常见的慢性血源性传染病；维持性血液透析患者中的患病率大大超过一般人群。在血液透析患者中，HCV 感染与肝硬化和肝细胞癌的发生率增加以及死亡率增加有关。在美国，注射毒品和 1992 年之前接受输血是大多数 HCV 感染的主要原因。然而，经常有记录表明血液透析患者之间存在 HCV 传播。暴发调查将感染控制措施的失误归咎于 HCV 感染的原因。预防这些感染是肾脏护理提供者、公共卫生机构和监管机构的新兴优先事项。遵守建议的感染控制措施可有效预防血液透析设施中的 HCV 传播。此外，采用常规筛查以促进发现新发生的 HCV 感染和与血液透析相关的传播，是患者安全和感染预防工作的重要组成部分。本文描述了美国维持性血液透析患者中 HCV 感染的当前流行病学以及降低其发病率和传播率的预防措施。
