HEPATITIS-C IN HOSPITAL EMPLOYEES WITH NEEDLESTICK INJURIES

Of 357 needlestick accidents occurring at a university hospital between 1981 and 1989, 200 involved 196 health care workers who were then prospectively followed for 6 months; 110 of these 196 workers were exposed to blood from antibody to the hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV). Only 4 of these 110 exposed persons (4%; 95% CI, 1% to 9%) developed non-A, non-B hepatitis. Hepatitis was accompanied by anti-HCV seroconversion in 3 of these 4 persons. Three of the four were icteric, and each had a peak alanine aminotransferase level exceeding 8.5-mu-kat/L. There was no instance of anti-HCV seroconversion among the 106 recipients of an anti-HCV-positive needlestick who did not manifest biochemical or clinical evidence of hepatitis. This study documents that HCV-related non-A, non-B hepatitis can be transmitted infrequently by needlestick injury.