Risk factors for hepatitis C virus infection among health care personnel in a community hospital.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence of and risk factors for antibody to the hepatitis C virus in hospital employees.

METHODS

Retrospective testing of serum samples obtained from 1677 hospital employees during a prehepatitis B vaccination program in a private teaching community hospital.

RESULTS

Twenty-three employees (1.4%) were found to have antibody to hepatitis C virus. The prevalence of antibody to hepatitis C virus was higher in blacks (3.4%) than in whites (1.1%, p = 0.03) and Hispanics (2.6%, p = 0.88). In a logistic regression model, factors significantly associated with antibody to hepatitis C virus seropositivity included antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (p = 0.002), a history of blood transfusion (p = 0.03), and needlestick injuries (p = 0.04).

CONCLUSION

Although the prevalence of antibody to hepatitis C virus in health care workers was not high, needlestick injuries were associated with an increased risk for acquiring hepatitis C virus infection.