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Sero-Prevalence and Determinants of Hepatitis C Virus Infection Among Healthcare Workers of a Private Tertiary Care Hospital in Karachi

Received: 4 February 2023    Accepted: 8 May 2023    Published: 29 May 2023
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Abstract

Health care workers (HCWs) are at high risk of exposure to hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV transmission due to occupational exposure to injuries, from sharp needles, and scalpels during the execution of their health care duties. We aimed to assess HCV sero-prevalence, and possible risk factors of HCV among HCWs of Kharadar General Hospital, Karachi. Total 300 HCWs were included in the study. Hepatitis C virus antibody was detected through rapid diagnostic test (RDT) then HCV-Ribo-nucleic Acid (RNA) was detected among RDT positive HCWs by using GeneXpert. Structure questionnaire was used for data collection. Data was analyzed by using SPSS 19. Correlation was seen between HCV determinants and positivity by using Pearson chi-square test. A p value of < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Total 300 HCWs were screened for HCV. Mean age of participants was 30.19 ± 10.55 years and 179 (60%) were female. Both Sero-prevalence and Viraemic prevalence was reported 3 (1%) among study HCWs. Occupational exposure through needle stick injury (NSI) was reported among 172 (57%) HCWs and commonly seen in nursing staff 88 (68.7%), especially at ER 13 (72%). Other significant non-occupational risk factors were ear/nose piercing 175 (58%), dental and surgical procedures 166 (55%). Frequency of HCV among HCWs of study hospital was low, despite high occupational exposure of NSI. Study findings can be used for future prevention of occupational exposure of HCV among HCWs by developing and implementing standard operational procedures and policies.

Published in International Journal of Infectious Diseases and Therapy (Volume 8, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijidt.20230802.12
Page(s) 57-62
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Hepatitis C, Healthcare Workers, Risk Factors, Sero-Prevalence, Viraemic Prevalence

References
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[9] Talaat M, Kandeel A, El-Shoubary W, Bodenschatz C, Khairy I, Oun S, et al. Occupational exposure to needlestick injuries and hepatitis B vaccination coverage among health care workers in Egypt. Am J Infect Control. 2003 Dec; 31 (8): 469–74.
[10] Musroor R, Saleem S. Prevalence and Perception of Needle Stick Injury Among Health Care Professionals at a Tertiary Care Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan. 2020. 48 (8) Suppl: S31.
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Mubashir Ahmed, Talat Parveen Shah, Muhammad Shahid, Khalid Iqbal. (2023). Sero-Prevalence and Determinants of Hepatitis C Virus Infection Among Healthcare Workers of a Private Tertiary Care Hospital in Karachi. International Journal of Infectious Diseases and Therapy, 8(2), 57-62. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijidt.20230802.12

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    ACS Style

    Mubashir Ahmed; Talat Parveen Shah; Muhammad Shahid; Khalid Iqbal. Sero-Prevalence and Determinants of Hepatitis C Virus Infection Among Healthcare Workers of a Private Tertiary Care Hospital in Karachi. Int. J. Infect. Dis. Ther. 2023, 8(2), 57-62. doi: 10.11648/j.ijidt.20230802.12

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    AMA Style

    Mubashir Ahmed, Talat Parveen Shah, Muhammad Shahid, Khalid Iqbal. Sero-Prevalence and Determinants of Hepatitis C Virus Infection Among Healthcare Workers of a Private Tertiary Care Hospital in Karachi. Int J Infect Dis Ther. 2023;8(2):57-62. doi: 10.11648/j.ijidt.20230802.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijidt.20230802.12,
      author = {Mubashir Ahmed and Talat Parveen Shah and Muhammad Shahid and Khalid Iqbal},
      title = {Sero-Prevalence and Determinants of Hepatitis C Virus Infection Among Healthcare Workers of a Private Tertiary Care Hospital in Karachi},
      journal = {International Journal of Infectious Diseases and Therapy},
      volume = {8},
      number = {2},
      pages = {57-62},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijidt.20230802.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijidt.20230802.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijidt.20230802.12},
      abstract = {Health care workers (HCWs) are at high risk of exposure to hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV transmission due to occupational exposure to injuries, from sharp needles, and scalpels during the execution of their health care duties. We aimed to assess HCV sero-prevalence, and possible risk factors of HCV among HCWs of Kharadar General Hospital, Karachi. Total 300 HCWs were included in the study. Hepatitis C virus antibody was detected through rapid diagnostic test (RDT) then HCV-Ribo-nucleic Acid (RNA) was detected among RDT positive HCWs by using GeneXpert. Structure questionnaire was used for data collection. Data was analyzed by using SPSS 19. Correlation was seen between HCV determinants and positivity by using Pearson chi-square test. A p value of < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Total 300 HCWs were screened for HCV. Mean age of participants was 30.19 ± 10.55 years and 179 (60%) were female. Both Sero-prevalence and Viraemic prevalence was reported 3 (1%) among study HCWs. Occupational exposure through needle stick injury (NSI) was reported among 172 (57%) HCWs and commonly seen in nursing staff 88 (68.7%), especially at ER 13 (72%). Other significant non-occupational risk factors were ear/nose piercing 175 (58%), dental and surgical procedures 166 (55%). Frequency of HCV among HCWs of study hospital was low, despite high occupational exposure of NSI. Study findings can be used for future prevention of occupational exposure of HCV among HCWs by developing and implementing standard operational procedures and policies.},
     year = {2023}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Sero-Prevalence and Determinants of Hepatitis C Virus Infection Among Healthcare Workers of a Private Tertiary Care Hospital in Karachi
    AU  - Mubashir Ahmed
    AU  - Talat Parveen Shah
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    JO  - International Journal of Infectious Diseases and Therapy
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    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2578-966X
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijidt.20230802.12
    AB  - Health care workers (HCWs) are at high risk of exposure to hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV transmission due to occupational exposure to injuries, from sharp needles, and scalpels during the execution of their health care duties. We aimed to assess HCV sero-prevalence, and possible risk factors of HCV among HCWs of Kharadar General Hospital, Karachi. Total 300 HCWs were included in the study. Hepatitis C virus antibody was detected through rapid diagnostic test (RDT) then HCV-Ribo-nucleic Acid (RNA) was detected among RDT positive HCWs by using GeneXpert. Structure questionnaire was used for data collection. Data was analyzed by using SPSS 19. Correlation was seen between HCV determinants and positivity by using Pearson chi-square test. A p value of < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Total 300 HCWs were screened for HCV. Mean age of participants was 30.19 ± 10.55 years and 179 (60%) were female. Both Sero-prevalence and Viraemic prevalence was reported 3 (1%) among study HCWs. Occupational exposure through needle stick injury (NSI) was reported among 172 (57%) HCWs and commonly seen in nursing staff 88 (68.7%), especially at ER 13 (72%). Other significant non-occupational risk factors were ear/nose piercing 175 (58%), dental and surgical procedures 166 (55%). Frequency of HCV among HCWs of study hospital was low, despite high occupational exposure of NSI. Study findings can be used for future prevention of occupational exposure of HCV among HCWs by developing and implementing standard operational procedures and policies.
    VL  - 8
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Author Information
  • Kharadar General Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan

  • Kharadar General Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan

  • Kharadar General Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan

  • Kharadar General Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan

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