Hepatitis G virus infection from needle-stick injuries in hospital employees

A new RNA virus, hepatitis G virus (HGV) is known to be transmissible by blood transfusion. The aim of this study was to assess whether HGV is an occupational risk to hospital employees as a result of exposure to needle-stick injuries. Among 220 cases of needle-stick injuries, 21 employees were contaminated with HGV. Initially none of the 21 recipients were HGV positive. Fourteen of the 21 recipients were followed up and further tested for HGV RNA and serum antienvelope (E2) specific antibody. None of the 21 recipients exposed to HGV developed liver function abnormalities, but one of the 14 recipients became positive for HGV RNA after the injury. Anti-E2 was negative in all recipients tested. These findings suggest a low clinical risk of occupational exposure to HGV in hospital employees. Nevertheless, HGV is transmissible by needle-stick injury.