Prevalence of hepatitis C antibodies in a large sample of Belgian healthcare workers.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the risk of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among Belgian (Flemish) healthcare workers. DESIGN: A seroprevalence survey of HCV IgG antibodies. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: A systematic sample of 5,064 employees from 22 general hospitals in Flanders and Brussels, Belgium, was tested at the annual occupational medical examination. Together with demographic and occupational data, information was collected on the frequency of blood contact, needlestick injuries, and medical and surgical history. The blood samples were tested using the third-generation Abbott Screen Kit test, with confirmation by Matrix, LIA, and an in-house polymerase chain reaction and the Quantiplex-HCV b-DNA test. RESULTS: 21 persons were found to be positive for HCV markers. The overall prevalence was 0.41% (95% confidence interval CI95], 0.24-0.59). A statistically significant association was found with a history of blood transfusion (odds ratio OR], 4.14; CI95, 1.67-10.31) and with history of a clinically apparent hepatitis (OR, 3.98; CI95, 1.60-9.90). Although the ORs for the frequency of blood contact were slightly elevated (between 1.17 and 2.73), this association was not significant. Moreover, a history of needlestick injuries showed a nonsignificant OR of 1.28 (CI95, 0.53-3.09), and no statistically significant difference was found with a variety of duties and tasks. The ORs for potential occupational risk factors were adjusted according to age, gender, antecedents, and other confounders using a logistic regression analysis. Based on this procedure, the ORs decreased slightly. CONCLUSIONS: Flemish healthcare workers showed a lower HCV seropositivity than is seen in the general population; a history of blood transfusion and of clinically apparent hepatitis was most strongly associated with the presence of HCV markers. We concluded that employees in Flemish regional general hospitals are not at an overall increased risk for HCV infection, although occasional transmission through percutaneous injuries is possible, and prevention therefore remains imperative.