Investigation of potential iatrogenic transmission of hepatitis C in Victoria, Australia

Abstract

Objective: To determine the level of exposure to medical and surgical procedures among Australian-born patients whose mode of acquisition of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) is unknown. Method: Place and time of study: Melbourne, Australia, 1998-2000. Design: Retrospective case series. Instrument: Structured questionnaire administered by one interviewer. Setting: Referral centre for hepatitis C in a tertiary teaching hospital. Participants: Australian-born individuals persistently HCV antibody (anti-HCV) positive on at least two second-generation commercial assays. Main outcome measures: Demographic and self-reported exposure data. Results: Of 135 anti-HCV positive individuals with no known mode ..