Nosocomial hepatitis C in a thoracic surgery unit; retrospective findings generating a prospective study.

We describe the transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) to two patients from a thoracic surgeon who was unaware of his hepatitis C infection. By partial sequencing of the non-structural 5B gene and phylogenetic analysis, the viruses from both patients were found to be closely related to genotype 1a strain from the surgeon. Two further hepatitis C cases were found in relation to the thoracic clinic. Their HCV sequences were related to each other but were of genotype 2b and the source of infection was never revealed. To elucidate the magnitude of the problem, we conducted a prospective study for a period of 17 months in which patients who were about to undergo thoracic surgery were asked to participate. Blood samples were drawn prior to surgery and at least four months later. The postoperative samples were then screened for anti-HCV and, if positive, the initial sample was also analysed. The only two patients (0.4%) identified were confirmed anti-HCV positive before surgery, and none out of 456 evaluable cases seroconverted to anti-HCV during the observation period. Despite the retrospectively identified cases, nosocomial hepatitis C is rare in our thoracic unit. The study points out the risk of transmission of hepatitis C from infected personnel and reiterates the need for universal precautions.

Respiratory syncytial virus: heterogeneity of subgroup B strains.

In order to investigate further possible structural differences among the two subgroups of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), we analysed the antigenic characteristics and size of structural proteins of 20 subgroup A and 43 subgroup B strains by their reactions with monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) directed against the proteins of RSV using immunofluorescence, ELISA and radioimmunoprecipitation assays. The latter test also enabled determination of the size of different structural components. The 37 MAbs employed were generated by immunization with both subgroup A and B strains. They represented specificities for distinct epitopes on five different structural proteins. The subgroup A strains proved to be relatively uniform. The fusion (F) protein, nucleoprotein (NP) and matrix (M) proteins of all strains tested had the same Mr and all except one strain had a phosphoprotein (P protein) of the same Mr. The F and P proteins were lower in Mr in B strains compared to A strains, which confirmed previous findings. The Mr of the large surface glycoprotein (G protein) of subgroup A strains varied slightly, probably on the basis of differing glycosylation. By contrast, the subgroup B strains exhibited substantial variation in the Mr of the G and also the P proteins and in reactivity with MAbs directed against the G and F proteins. Three size classes of the P protein were identified in B strains: 33K to 34K, 32K to 33K, and 31K to 32K. Twenty-seven subgroup B strains failed to react with four anti-G MAbs representing a single epitope, G2; the remaining 16 strains reacted with these MAbs. We designated these two sets of variants of B strains B1, which lacked the epitope, and B2, which had the epitope. The B1 strains also varied in the size of the G and P proteins. In contrast, all B2 strains had large G proteins and all except two strains had relatively large P proteins (33K to 34K). All subgroup B1 and B2 strains exhibited the same sizes of NP, F and M proteins. We conclude that the subgroup B strains of RSV include two variants, B1 and B2, and that the major difference between them resides in the G and P proteins.

Occurrence of respiratory syncytial virus subtypes A and B strains in Sweden.

The subtype characteristics of 22 strains of respiratory syncytial (RS) virus isolated in Sweden were determined by the use of monoclonal antibodies. Eleven antibodies specific for distinct epitopes on five different structural proteins were used in immunofluorescence and radioimmune precipitation assays. One group of 12 isolates were derived from a three-month epidemic during 1984, whereas the other ten virus isolates were recovered during a time period of 13 years (1971-1983). All isolates could be allocated to the previously defined groups of subtype A and B strains of RS virus. During the single epidemic season, five subtype A and seven subtype B strains were found. During the 13-year period a randomly alternating appearance of six subtype A and four subtype B strains was observed. Thus RS virus strains of different subtype characteristics may occur alternately or concomitantly. The possible significance of consecutive infections with RS virus subtypes for immunopathological events deserves further studies.