Do undefined sources of hepatitis C transmission exist? The Greek study inGeneral Practice

A seroepidemiological study was carried out in 15 primary health care (PHC) centres in rural Greece to determine the prevalence of hepatitis C virus ( HCV) in the surgeries of Greek General Practitioners (GPs) and to further c larify the transmission of hepatitis C in Greece. Serum samples were obtain ed from 1961 subjects (1259 females) aged greater than or equal to 15 years , who visited GP surgeries between July 1996 and February 1997 in 15 PHC ce ntres located in three large Greek regions (Macedonia, Attika and Crete). S ubjects who participated in the study fulfilled the following criteria: his tory of blood transfusion; hospital admission of > 7 days' duration without surgical or other intervention; use of intravenous drugs (current or previ ous); or women with a history of medical or paramedical abortion. Nearly 65 % (1263 subjects) of the participants in this study reported hospital admis sion with a length of stay > 7 days. Antibodies to HCV (anti-HCV) were foun d in 67 participants (3.5%), 41 of whom were females and 44 of whom were ag ed greater than or equal to 61 years. The highest prevalence (4.8%) of anti -HCV was found in Crete, and differences among the Greek regions were stati stically significant (P < 0.05). Multivariate statistical analysis showed t hat in addition to regional differences, the following variables had a stat istically significant effect on the prevalence of anti-HCV: history of dent al surgery; use of intravenous drugs; hospital admission for > 7 days; and the high consumption of alcoholic drinks. Hence there is a significant vari ability in the prevalence of hepatitis C in well-defined PHC areas of Greec e. Several risk factors for acquiring HCV infection have been identified. S creening for HCV risk factors may enable Greek GPs to identify HCV-infected patients.