Early therapy with interferon for acute hepatitis C acquired through a needlestick.

Abstract

Because there is no effective neutralizing antibody or vaccine for preventing hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission, HCV can be transmitted to health care workers through accidental needlesticks. Recently, two of our health care workers acquired HCV infection through needlestick accidents and developed acute hepatitis C. The route of transmission was confirmed by molecular evolutionary analysis with use of the E2 region of the HCV genome. After the clinical onset of acute hepatitis, the health care workers were treated with interferon (IFN) (total dose, approximately 300 megaunits). Neither individual developed chronic hepatitis. This finding raises the possibility that treatment with low-dose IFN following an accidental needlestick may be beneficial, even when it is started after the clinical onset of hepatitis.

• Authors: S Noguchi, M Sata, H Suzuki, K Ohba, M Mizokami, K Tanikawa
• Journal: Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (Clin Infect Dis) Vol. 24 Issue 5 Pg. 992-4 (May 1997) ISSN: 1058-4838 [Print] United States
• PMID: 9142809 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antiviral Agents
• Hepatitis C Antibodies
• Interferon alpha-2
• Interferon-alpha
• Recombinant Proteins

Topics

• Acute Disease
• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Antiviral Agents (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Base Sequence
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Female
• Health Personnel
• Hepatitis C (genetics, immunology, therapy, transmission)
• Hepatitis C Antibodies (analysis)
• Humans
• Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional
• Interferon alpha-2
• Interferon-alpha (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Male
• Molecular Sequence Data
• Needlestick Injuries (therapy)
• Occupational Diseases (therapy)
• Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Recombinant Proteins