Title of article :
Hepatitis C virus infection and risk factors in health-care workers at Ain Shams University Hospitals, Cairo, Egypt
Author/Authors :
Okasha, O. Ain Shams University - Department of Community, Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Egypt , Munier, A. Institut Pasteur - Emerging Diseases Epidemiology Unit, France , Delarocque-Astagneau, E. Institut Pasteur - Emerging Diseases Epidemiology Unit, France , El Houssinie, M. Ain Shams University - Department of Community, Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Egypt , Rafik, M. Ain Shams University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Clinical Pathology, Egypt , Bassim, H. Ain Shams University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Clinical Pathology, Egypt , Abdel Hamid, M. National Hepatology and Tropical Medicine Research Institute - Viral Hepatitis Research Laboratory, Egypt , Abdel Hamid, M. Minya University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Microbiology, Egypt , Mohamed, M.K. Ain Shams University - Department of Community, Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Egypt , Fontanet, A. Institut Pasteur - Emerging Diseases Epidemiology Unit, France , Fontanet, A. Conservatoire National des Arts et Mériers, France
Abstract :
The objectives of this study were to document the background prevalence and incidence of HCV infection among HCWs in Ain Shams University Hospitals in Cairo and analyse the risk factors for HCV infection. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2008 among 1770 HCWs. Anti-HCV prevalence was age-standardized using the Cairo population. A prospective cohort was followed for a period of 18 months to estimate HCV incidence. The crude anti-HCV prevalence was 8.0% and the age-standardized seroprevalence was 8.1%. Risk factors independently associated with HCV seropositivity were: age, manual worker, history of blood transfusions and history of parenteral anti-schistosomiasis treatment. The estimated incidence of HCV infection was 7.3 per 1000 person-years. HCWs in this setting had a similar high HCV seroprevalence as the general population of greater Cairo.
