Prevalence of hepatitis C virus antibodies among health care workers in Baghdad, Iraq

ABSTRACT

There are several reports on the occupational risk of hepatitis C virus infection of health care workers [HCWs] by accidental inoculation of infected blood. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of anti-HCV among a sample of Iraqi HCWs. A total of 1656 HCWs selected from various hospitals and medical units in Baghdad, together with 238 "apparently" healthy subjects [controls] were tested for anti-HCV from June 1995 to April !998. Serum testing was carried out by a third generation of enzyme immunoassay [EIA] for screening for anti-HCV and a third generation recombinant immunoblot assay [RIA-111] for confirmation of the presence of HCV antibodies. A higher rate of anti-HCV [1.51%] was observed among HCWs than controls [0.84%]. The highest prevalence rate of anti-HCV was detected in the renal dialysis group [6.25%] followed by the dentistry group [4.26%]. These were the only groups having a statistically significant higher prevalence of anti-HCV than controls when each group was compared with controls. An increase in the prevalence of anti-HCV with duration of professional practice was demonstrated. The highest rate of anti-HCV was detected among HCWs in cardiovascular surgery hospitals [4.21%] followed by infectious disease hospitals [3.37%]. Efforts to reduce exposure to blood and other body fluids are needed to reduce the risk of the occupational transmission of HCV infection, as no vaccine against HCV infection is available yet