Hepatitis C virus and the risk to the healthcare worker

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Date

Authors

Greyling, Pauline
Le Roux, Theo L.B.
Botha, Liesl

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

South African Orthopaedic Association

Abstract

The risk of hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission is six times higher per needle-stick exposure than is the risk of HIV infection (1.8% vs 0.3%). The prevalence of HCV in South Africa is not known but estimated to be between 0.1 and 0.7%. Genotype 5 is predominantly found in South Africa. Currently there is no protocol in place for HCV exposure. The treatment cost of HCV is expensive. Currently none of the insurance companies covers post-HCV exposure.

Description

Keywords

Transmission risk, Post-exposure protocol, Hepatitis C virus (HCV), HCV exposure

Sustainable Development Goals

Citation

Greyling, P, Le Roux, TLB & Botha, L 2014, 'Hepatitis C virus and the risk to the healthcare worker ', SA Orthopaedic Journal, vol. 13, no. 4, pp. 35-38.