HDCN: Review of abstract by Pinto dos Santos et al. <B>Dialysis room and reuse strategies</B> that affect the incidence of <B>hepatitis C</B> infection in HD units (1995 ASN Meeting)

Pinto dos Santos, Loureiro A, Schmid CS, Ruthazer T, Pereira BJG
Dialysis room and reuse strategies that affect the incidence of hepatitis C infection in HD units
Am Soc Nephrol
J Am Soc Nephrol (abstract) (Nov) 6:557 1995

In this questionnaire-based study conducted in 71 HD units in Portugal, the authors examine two possible modes of transmission of HCV in the Dialysis units - Practices in the dialysis room and the reprocessing room. The authors observed a significantly lower incidence of HCV infection in dialysis units where dedicated stations were used for HCV infected patients (1.5%, p<0.001) or a separate room was used to treat HCV infected patients(3.2%, p<0.001). In contrast, units that did not follow any policy had an incidence of 6.7%. With respect to reprocessing room policies, the lowest incidence was observed in units where there were either no re-use or the reprocessing of the dialyzers was done in a seperate room. These results suggest that specific dialysis room and reprocessing room policies significantly influence the transmission of HCV in dialysis units. (Bhamidipati/Pereira)

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Am Soc Nephrol
CRF by organ system : GI/Liver, Hepatitis
Basic hemodialysis : Reuse, theory and practice

To eliminate the transmission of HCV in the reuse department simply stop reprocessing dialysers from infected patients. This would also apply to any dialysers being used by HIV patients.
Robert K Greening Dialysis Technologist
Ottawa, Ontario Canada-Wednesday, February 26, 1997 at 07:47:05 (PST)