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©2009 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Feb 14, 2009; 15(6): 641-646
Published online Feb 14, 2009. doi: 10.3748/wjg.15.641
Published online Feb 14, 2009. doi: 10.3748/wjg.15.641
A shield against a monster: Hepatitis C in hemodialysis patients
Seyed-Moayed Alavian, Baqiyatallah Research Center for Gastroenterology and Liver Disease, Baqiyatallah Research Center for Gastroenterology and Liver Disease, Tehran 1998136194, Iran
Author contribution: Alavian SM contributed all to this paper.
Correspondence to: Seyed-Moayed Alavian, Professor, Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Baqiyatallah Research Center for Gastroenterology and Liver Disease, Vanaq Square, Mola Sadra St., PO Box 14155-3651, Tehran 1998136194, Iran. alavian@thc.ir
Telephone: +98-21-88945186
Fax: +98-21-88945188
Received: May 12, 2008
Revised: July 15, 2008
Accepted: July 22, 2008
Published online: February 14, 2009
Revised: July 15, 2008
Accepted: July 22, 2008
Published online: February 14, 2009
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is highly prevalent among patients on hemodialysis (HD). The prevalence of HCV infection in HD patients varies markedly from country to country. Some factors are especially related to these high prevalence rates, such as blood transfusions and length of dialysis time. Nosocomial routes of transmission including the use of contaminated equipment and patient-to-patient exposure is considered more important. Several prophylactic measures have been suggested to avoid infection by HCV in the HD environment.
Keywords: Dialysis, Epidemiology, Hepatitis C virus, Incidence, Isolation, Nosocomial transmission, Prevalence, Prevention, Universal precaution