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EUROPEAN STUDY ON EPIDEMIOLOGY AND THE MANAGEMENT OF HCV IN THE HAEMODIALYSIS POPULATION. PART 1: CENTRE POLICY
Author(s) -
Zampieron Alessandra,
Jayasekera Heather,
Elseviers Monique,
Lindley Elizabeth,
DeVos JeanYves,
Visser Ronald,
Harrington Maurice
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
edtna‐erca journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.381
H-Index - 27
eISSN - 1755-6686
pISSN - 1019-083X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-6686.2004.tb00341.x
Subject(s) - epidemiology , medicine , political science , virology
SUMMARY Haemodialysis patients are known to be at risk of infection of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) through nosocomial spread. This paper presents the first part of a study on epidemiology and management of HCV, in a haemodialysis population, conducted by the EDTNA/ERCA Research Board. Data on HCV management and infection control procedures was collected from 136 European centres using an electronic questionnaire. The study identifies a number of possible risk factors for transmission of the virus: failing to disinfect devices between patients, sharing of single‐use vials to prepare drugs or infusions for different patients, inadequate sterilisation or cleaning of machines between dialysis sessions, unsatisfactory environmental cleaning and distance less than one metre between chairs.