Performance and modification of EGCRISC among hepatitis C virus high-risk groups.

We have previously shown that the Egyptian Hepatitis C Virus Risk Score (EGCRISC), an Egyptian hepatitis C virus (HCV) risk-based screening tool, to be valid and cost-effective. Certain behaviours, occupations and diseases have been shown to be associated with an increased risk of exposure to HCV infection and constitute a major population reservoir of HCV infection. This study investigated the efficacy of EGCRISC in selected high-risk groups by testing 863 participants from four groups: slaughterhouse workers, illicit drug users (IDUs), female sex workers and human immune deficiency virus (HIV) patients. Data for this study were collected on EGCRISC and another pre-designed risk factor questionnaire. Sera were tested for HCV antibodies by ELISA. EGCRISC, at lower cut-off points, showed significantly good performance (P < 0.05) in all four groups except for females <45 years, but was reliable in detecting HCV cases (sensitivity: 84.21% and negative predictive value: 94.5%). Specific scores for IDUs and HIV patients were developed that showed high accuracy (P < 0.001). A modified EGCRISC for high-risk groups (EGCRISC-HRGs) was shown to be a valid tool that is recommended for use in high-risk populations if no other specific screening tool is available or universal screening is applied. EGCRISC for IDUs (EGCRISC-IDUs) and EGCRISC for HIV patients (EGCRISC-HIV) are useful tools for preselecting potentially HCV-infected cases for further testing in settings where serological analysis is not readily available or accessible.

Serological pattern of hepatitis B virus among Hbsag negative blood donors in Alexandria, Egypt.

This study in Alexandria, Egypt was conducted to investigate the distribution of different hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers in apparently healthy blood donors who were hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) negative, and to determine the major independent risk factors. Evidence of past exposure to HBV was found in 148/508 screened donors (29.1%). The most prevalent marker was anti-NBc in 124/508 donors (24.4%), half of whom (63/124) showed anti-HBc only. Anti-HBs prevalence was 15.9%, combined anti-NBc and antiHBs was 12.0% and anti-HBe was 5.7%. Independent risk factors associated with the presence of at least 1 markerwere: being married (OR 3.82), history of blood transfusion (OR 3.04) and parenteral antibilharzial treatment (OR 2.49). Receiving a full HBV vaccination schedule was reported by 39 donors, but only 1 of them had isolated anti-HBs. The relatively high prevalence of HBV exposure necessitates solid infection control measures and adult vaccination programme awareness.

Serological pattern of hepatitis B virus among HBsAg negative blood donors in Alexandria, Egypt

This study in Alexandria, Egypt was conducted to investigate the distribution of different hepatitis B virus [HBV] markers in apparently healthy blood donors who were hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg] negative, and to determine the major independent risk factors. Evidence of past exposure to HBV was found in 148/508 screened donors [29.1%]. The most prevalent marker was anti-HBc in 124/508 donors [24.4%], half of whom [63/124] showed anti-HBc only. Anti-HBs prevalence was 15.9%, combined anti-HBc and antiHBs was 12.0% and anti-HBe was 5.7%. Independent risk factors associated with the presence of at least 1 marker were: being married [OR 3.82], history of blood transfusion [OR 3.04] and parenteral antibilharzial treatment [OR 2.49]. Receiving a full HBV vaccination schedule was reported by 39 donors, but only 1 of them had isolated anti-HBs. The relatively high prevalence of HBV exposure necessitates solid infection control measures and adult vaccination programme awareness