Seroprevalence of HCV Infection among Health Care Workers in Two Teaching Hospitals, Tehran, Iran

Authors
Mahshid Talebitaher 1
Sahar Rismantab 2
Siamak Khaleghi 3
Hossein Keyvani 4
Mitra Barati 5
siamak Soltani 6
1 Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, Rasoul-e-Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran Infectious diseases department, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
2 Internal medicine department, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
3 Gastroenterologist, Internal medicine department, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
4 Department of virology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran-Iran.
5 Pediatric infectious diseases research center, Infectious diseases department, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran-Iran.
6 Forensic medicine department, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran-Iran.
Abstract
Background: Health care workers (HCWs) are at the risk of the acquisition of occupational transmissible diseases. Controversial results have been reported about hepatitis C virus (HCV). The main objective of the recent study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of HCV and its relationship to the occupational history and exposure of HCWs in two teaching hospitals in Tehran-Iran.

Materials and Methods: A seroprevalence survey of HCV was conducted using serum samples obtained from 1400 HCWs in two teaching hospitals during 2012. The samples were screened by ELISA for the presence of anti-HCV antibodies.

Results: In none of the participants the HCV antibody was detected. Needle stick injury was significantly higher among nurses. Younger HCWs with a shorter professional life had more frequent needle stick injury (p<0.001).

Conclusion: The seroprevalence of HCV in HCWs was considerably lower than that reported in the general population, and needs to be evaluated on a larger scale.
Keywords
HCV
Health Care Workers
Seroprevalence
Iran
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