As
a new year begins, the spread of hepatitis C infection through the
health care system continues to be a public health concern and is the
subject of a review study that appeared in the December 14 issue of
World Journal of Gastroenterology.
The article authors support an increase in efforts to inform and educate health care workers on the risks inherent in blood-borne infections. It also stresses the importance of wide spread adoption of standard precautions among health care workers such as regular hand washing and wearing of protective gloves, masks and gowns, as well as work practices and safe injection practices with single-use disposable needles and syringes.
“Despite the absence of a prophylactic vaccine, most of the conditions are met for controlling the HCV risk in health care settings,” state the authors. “With the conviction that where there is will there is a way, this goal can and must be achieved in the next years.”
- See more at: http://www.hcplive.com/articles/Health-Care-Associated-Hepatitis-C-Infections-Reviewed#sthash.txaJLpsB.dpufLabels: nosocomial infection