Hepatitis C and hepatitis B virus infection in hemodialysis patients and staff: a two year follow-up.

To estimate the prevalence of antibodies to the hepatitis C virus ((HCV) and hepatitis virus (HBV) and the presence of infection, 101 patients receiving renal replacement therapy and 75 staff members caring for them were tested. Evaluation included detailed history, screening for anti-HCV antibody, HBV markers and liver enzymes 38% of patients were anti-HCV positives and 15 (40%) of these had antibodies to the hepatitis B core antigen indicating previous hepatitis B infection. Positive markers indicating HBV infection only, accounted for another 18% of patients. All staff members were anti-HCV negative, although 34 (45%) were anti-HBc positive. Age, sex and history of blood transfusions did not influence the prevalence of anti-HCV and anti-HBC in patients. There was, however, a significant difference in the prevalence of anti-HCV and anti-HBc positivity between polytransfused and occasionally transfused patients (p < 0.05). During a 24-months follow-up a decline was observed in HBs antigen carriers from 20% to 10% and in HBc antibody carriers from 47% to 33%. At the same time, regardless of accurate preventive measures, an increase in incidence of anti-HCV seropositivity from 30% to 38% was detected.