Prevalence of Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C in patients undergoing hemodialysis at a teaching hospital in Uttarakhand

• Published in: Journal of family medicine and primary care 2022-04, Vol.11 (4), p.1348-1353
• Main Authors: Raina, Dimple, Rawat, Neha, Pandita, Ajay
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antibodies; Chronic kidney failure; Disease transmission; hbsag; hcv antibody; Health aspects; Hemodialysis; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis C; Hepatitis C virus; immunocompromised; Infection; nosocomial; Original; Viral antibodies
• ISSN: 2249-4863; 2278-7135
• DOI: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1017_21

Introduction: Hemodialysis (HD) requires blood exposure to infectious materials through the extracorporeal circulation for a prolonged period, and exposure to risk factors for nosocomial infections is always there. Aims and Objectives: To determine the prevalence of hepatitis B and hepatitis C in patients undergoing hemodialysis and evaluate the various modes of transmission involved in the causation of the infection. Materials and Methods: A total of 60 patients with chronic kidney disease, admitted to our hospital for HD, were screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-HCV antibodies. A questionnaire was designed to evaluate risk factors and data were generated to evaluate the significance of the association. Results: Out of 60 subjects, an anti-HCV antibody was detected in 31.68% of patients and 11.66% of patients were positive for HBsAg. The maximum anti-HBV-positive patients were in >60 years of age group (11.53%), whereas the maximum HCV-positive patients were between 41 and 50 age group (23.07%). Most of the HCV-positive patients (54.54%), as well as HBV-positive patients (23.52%), received hemodialysis 50 to 100 times. The major primary disease-causing end-stage renal disease (ESRD) included chronic nephritis (35%). The duration of dialysis, multiple blood transfusions, drug addiction, and body piercing/tattooing were also observed as significant risk factors. Conclusion: In HD patients, viral hepatitis poses a significant health hazard, particularly in developing countries. HBV vaccination, strict adherence to the universal precautions, segregation of HBV-positive patients can control HBV infection in HD units. However, for HCV, the absence of a specific vaccine and the nosocomial transmission of the virus increase the peril more.