A CASE OF HEPATITIS-B IN A HEMODIALYSIS UNIT

A patient probably acquired hepatitis B virus (HBV) from a transfused infected unit of fresh frozen plasma. She had been on regular haemodia lysis for four months before her infection was discovered. One hundred and seventy-six patients and 304 staff contacts were screened and the re were no secondary cases. At donation the infected blood donor was h epatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) negative but subsequently proved to be anti-hepatitis B core (HBc)-positive and positive for HBV DNA. Con sideration should be given to screening blood donations for anti-HBc i n addition to HBsAg. Vigilance needs to be maintained on dialysis unit s against sporadic cases of hepatitis B. All staff should be immunized and be able to demonstrate protective levels of anti-HBs.