Should EDs Be Screening for Hepatitis C Virus Infection?

Using blood collected for an HIV prevalence study in 2008–2009, investigators found that 14% of patients at a single emergency department were infected with HCV.

The CDC recommends that emergency departments (EDs) screen all patients for HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. This is important to prevent transmission and because effective treatment is available for HIV and curative treatment is available for HCV. Using blood that had been collected for an HIV prevalence study in 2008–2009, investigators analyzed HCV seroprevalence among consecutive patients (aged 18 to 64 years) in a single Midwestern ED.

Of 924 patients whose samples were tested, 14% were positive for HCV antibodies. Of patients who tested positive, only 34% reported a history of HCV or hepatitis of unknown type. Thus the prevalence of unknown HCV infection was 4.8% (0.14 x 0.34).

Reviewing Author

Daniel J. Pallin, MD, MPH

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardPortola Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Speaker’s BureauPeerView Institute for Medical Education

Grant/Research SupportAgency for Healthcare Research and Quality; CDC; NIH–National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences; NIH–National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID); NIH–NIAID–Antibacterial Resistance Leadership Group; Merck; Pfizer; Boehringer-Ingelheim; Shire; Portola Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Novartis; bioMérieux; Siemens; Rapid Pathogen Screening; Magnolia; Stago; Innovative Biosensors; Molecular Detection, Inc.; Dyax Corp.; Trius Pharmaceuticals

Daniel J. Pallin, MD, MPH

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardPortola Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Speaker’s BureauPeerView Institute for Medical Education

Should EDs Be Screening for Hepatitis C Virus Infection?

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Reviewing Author