TY - JOUR
T1 - A physician with a positive hepatitis C virus RNA test after a needlestick injury
AU - Weegink, Christine J.
AU - Sentjens, Roel E.
AU - van der Heyden, Jeroen F.
AU - Chamuleau, Robert A.
AU - Tytgat, Guido N.
AU - Beld, Marcel G.
PY - 2003
Y1 - 2003
N2 - Needlestick accidents continue to be a hazard for healthcare workers. We report the development of acute hepatitis C infection in a physician after needlestick injury. Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-RNA, seroconversion and a raised plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALAT) level were found in plasma three months after the accident. Treatment with interferon alfa and ribavirin was started. While the physician was on treatment, HCV-RNA test results from plasma taken the day treatment was started became available. HCV-RNA was undetectable by quantitative bDNA assay, undetectable by qualitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and undetectable by transcription mediated amplification (TMA). A dilemma arose at this point: should the patient stop the treatment or continue the planned therapy? The physician decided to continue a 24-week course of treatment. Six months after the end of treatment, the physician was still HCV-RNA-negative and with a normal plasma ALAT level. The rationale of the decision to continue therapy is discussed. This information may be useful for clinicians confronted with a similar dilemma. (C) 2003 Lippincott Williams Wilkins
AB - Needlestick accidents continue to be a hazard for healthcare workers. We report the development of acute hepatitis C infection in a physician after needlestick injury. Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-RNA, seroconversion and a raised plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALAT) level were found in plasma three months after the accident. Treatment with interferon alfa and ribavirin was started. While the physician was on treatment, HCV-RNA test results from plasma taken the day treatment was started became available. HCV-RNA was undetectable by quantitative bDNA assay, undetectable by qualitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and undetectable by transcription mediated amplification (TMA). A dilemma arose at this point: should the patient stop the treatment or continue the planned therapy? The physician decided to continue a 24-week course of treatment. Six months after the end of treatment, the physician was still HCV-RNA-negative and with a normal plasma ALAT level. The rationale of the decision to continue therapy is discussed. This information may be useful for clinicians confronted with a similar dilemma. (C) 2003 Lippincott Williams Wilkins
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1097/00042737-200312000-00017
DO - https://doi.org/10.1097/00042737-200312000-00017
M3 - Article
C2 - 14624162
SN - 0954-691X
VL - 15
SP - 1367
EP - 1369
JO - European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology
JF - European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology
IS - 12
ER -