ABSTRACT
Transmission of hepatitis B virus [HBV] hepatitis C virus [HCV] and human immune deficiency virus [HIV] does take place in dialysis units worldwide at different rates. The aim of this study was to identify the prevalence rates of HBV, HCV and HIV in the dialysis unit, Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital [MAKH], Kuwait. Design: Retrospective study Dialysis Unit and Virology Unit, MAKH, Kuwait Subjects: In 2012, a total of 1369 samples from adult patients on dialysis at MAKH were screened. HBV, HCV and HIV were screened for HBV surface antigen [HBsAg] [ARCHITECT HBsAg Qualitative II 2011, Abbott], HCV antibodies [Anti-HCV] [ARCHITECT Reagent Kit 2011, Abbott] and HIV antigen and antibody [HIV Ag/Ab] [ARCHITECT HIV Ag/Ab Combo Reagent Kit 2011, Abbott], respectively Prevalence rates of HBV, HCV and HIV in the dialysis unit, MAKH, Kuwait HBV, HCV and HIV prevalence among dialyzed patients in the MAKH dialysis unit was 1.2%, 6.3% and 0.1% respectively. This study, to our knowledge, is the only study providing recent data on blood borne viruses [BBVs] among patients in a dialysis unit in Kuwait. A multicenter study is recommended to determine the national prevalence of BBVs in all the dialysis unit of Kuwait