PREVENTION OF HEPATITIS-C INFECTION IN HEMODIALYSIS UNITS - A PROSPECTIVE-STUDY

A prospective study was begun in our haemodialysis unit after four pre viously negative patients were found to be anti-HCV positive. A dedica ted area and dedicated dialysis equipment (but not a separate room) we re assigned to anti-HCV-positive patients and testing for HCV antibodi es was performed every 3 months. A total of 131 patients were treated during the study period of 18 months. Of these, 50 patients were dialy sed during the entire 18 months, and 21 were available to be tested si x or more months after having left the centre. During the first 6 week s after implementing the precautions two more anti-HCV-positive patien ts were detected. However, during the rest of the study period no furt her newly infected patients were found. It is concluded that the sprea d of HCV infection in a haemodialysis environment can be prevented by limited isolation procedures.