Treatment and followup of health care workers after occupational exposure to hepatitis C virus

Abstract:

ObjectiveTo investigate the treatment process and infection status of health care workers(HCWs) after occupational exposure to hepatitis C virus (HCV),and provide experience in the prevention and control of occupational exposure to HCV.MethodsExposed links, treatment methods and followup results after occupational exposure to HCV among 5 HCWs were investigated. ResultsAll 5 HCWs were nurses,1 of whom developed acute HCV infection after exposure. All HCVexposed HCWs were given psychological counselling,4 HCWs were excluded from diagnosis of infection and return to normal work; the HCVinfected nurse was excluded from clinical work, received psychological support, and recovered after 1year combined antiviral therapy with pegylated interferon and ribavirin.ConclusionThe key to the recovery from acute HCV infection after occupational exposure to HCV among HCWs are timely report, surveillance of HCV RNA infection, and combined antiviral therapy with pegylated interferon and ribavirin.