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Butaru AE, Gheonea DI, Rogoveanu I, Diculescu M, Boicea AR, Bunescu M, Streba CT, Oancea CN. Micro-Elimination: Updated Pathway to Global Elimination of Hepatitis C in Small Communities and Industrial Settings during the COVID 19 Pandemic. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10214976. [PMID: 34768496 PMCID: PMC8584569 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10214976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In response to the goal of the World Health Organisation to eliminate hepatitis C virus infections by 2030, Romania is striving for national elimination. An already successful micro-elimination project was expanded to test-and-treat specific populations and at-risk groups. The aim of this project was to identify the individuals with HCV infection in disadvantaged regions who do not have proper medical care access. MATERIALS AND METHODS Our two-arm interventional cross-sectional study used rapid anti-HCV antibody testing on two population groups from the Romanian southwestern region of Oltenia, approached between September 2020 and May 2021. The first group consisted of predominantly over 40 years old individuals, recruited through five family doctors from two medium-sized towns (community lot-CL). We approached a second group, aged 18-65, through 11 medical offices of five large factories in the same region (industry lot, IL). A 12-items questionnaire was given to each participant, to determine risk factors and record demographic data. Eligible patients initiated antiviral therapy using direct-acting antivirals (DAAs). RESULTS We enrolled 15,383 individuals between all 16 locations. The overall prevalence by antibody testing was 0.77% (119 cases). Of these, 57 subsequently received treatment with DAAs. We identified blood transfusions as a risk factor within the CL. Participants in the IL reported a relatively high risk for the following situations: sharing of personal hygiene belongings with another person, performing previous blood transfusions, dental interventions and previous surgery. CONCLUSIONS In this global context, the use of micro-elimination allows interventions to be faster and more efficient. This is possible by targeting smaller and specific HCV risk groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anca Elena Butaru
- Department of Infectious Disease, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania;
| | - Dan Ionuț Gheonea
- Department of Gastroenterology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania; (D.I.G.); (I.R.)
| | - Ion Rogoveanu
- Department of Gastroenterology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania; (D.I.G.); (I.R.)
| | - Mircea Diculescu
- Department of Gastroenterology, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania;
| | - Ancuța-Ramona Boicea
- Department of Labor Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania; (A.-R.B.); (M.B.)
| | - Marius Bunescu
- Department of Labor Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania; (A.-R.B.); (M.B.)
| | - Costin-Teodor Streba
- Research Center of Gastroenterology and Hepatology of Craiova, 200638 Craiova, Romania
- Department of Pulmonology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +40-722-38-99-06
| | - Carmen Nicoleta Oancea
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania;
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Huiban L, Stanciu C, Muzica CM, Cuciureanu T, Chiriac S, Zenovia S, Burduloi VM, Petrea O, Sîngeap AM, Gîrleanu I, Sfarti C, Cojocariu C, Trifan A. Hepatitis C Virus Prevalence and Risk Factors in a Village in Northeastern Romania-A Population-Based Screening-The First Step to Viral Micro-Elimination. Healthcare (Basel) 2021; 9:healthcare9060651. [PMID: 34072635 PMCID: PMC8229891 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare9060651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2021] [Revised: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: The World Health Organization adopted a strategy for the Global Health Sector on Viral Hepatitis in 2016, with the main objective of eliminating hepatitis C virus (HCV) by 2030. In this work, we aimed to evaluate the prevalence of HCV infection and risk factors in a Romanian village using population-based screening as part of the global C virus eradication program. (2) Methods: We conducted a prospective study from March 2019 to February 2020, based on a strategy as part of a project designed to educate, screen, treat and eliminate HCV infection in all adults in a village located in Northeastern Romania. (3) Results: In total, 3507 subjects were invited to be screened by rapid diagnostic orientation tests (RDOT). Overall, 2945 (84%) subjects were tested, out of whom 78 (2.64%) were found to have positive HCV antibodies and were scheduled for further evaluation in a tertiary center of gastroenterology/hepatology in order to be linked to care. In total, 66 (85%) subjects presented for evaluation and 55 (83%) had detectable HCV RNA. Of these, 54 (98%) completed antiviral treatment and 53 (99%) obtained a sustained virological response. (4) Conclusions: The elimination of hepatitis C worldwide has a higher chance of success if micro-elimination strategies based on mass screening are adopted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Huiban
- Department of Gastroenterology “Grigore T. Popa”, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania; (L.H.); (C.S.); (C.M.M.); (T.C.); (S.C.); (S.Z.); (O.P.); (A.M.S.); (I.G.); (C.S.); (C.C.)
| | - Carol Stanciu
- Department of Gastroenterology “Grigore T. Popa”, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania; (L.H.); (C.S.); (C.M.M.); (T.C.); (S.C.); (S.Z.); (O.P.); (A.M.S.); (I.G.); (C.S.); (C.C.)
- Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “St. Spiridon” Emergency Hospital, 700111 Iasi, Romania
| | - Cristina Maria Muzica
- Department of Gastroenterology “Grigore T. Popa”, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania; (L.H.); (C.S.); (C.M.M.); (T.C.); (S.C.); (S.Z.); (O.P.); (A.M.S.); (I.G.); (C.S.); (C.C.)
| | - Tudor Cuciureanu
- Department of Gastroenterology “Grigore T. Popa”, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania; (L.H.); (C.S.); (C.M.M.); (T.C.); (S.C.); (S.Z.); (O.P.); (A.M.S.); (I.G.); (C.S.); (C.C.)
- Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “St. Spiridon” Emergency Hospital, 700111 Iasi, Romania
| | - Stefan Chiriac
- Department of Gastroenterology “Grigore T. Popa”, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania; (L.H.); (C.S.); (C.M.M.); (T.C.); (S.C.); (S.Z.); (O.P.); (A.M.S.); (I.G.); (C.S.); (C.C.)
- Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “St. Spiridon” Emergency Hospital, 700111 Iasi, Romania
| | - Sebastian Zenovia
- Department of Gastroenterology “Grigore T. Popa”, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania; (L.H.); (C.S.); (C.M.M.); (T.C.); (S.C.); (S.Z.); (O.P.); (A.M.S.); (I.G.); (C.S.); (C.C.)
| | - Vladut Mirel Burduloi
- Department of Anatomy “Grigore T. Popa”, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania;
| | - Oana Petrea
- Department of Gastroenterology “Grigore T. Popa”, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania; (L.H.); (C.S.); (C.M.M.); (T.C.); (S.C.); (S.Z.); (O.P.); (A.M.S.); (I.G.); (C.S.); (C.C.)
- Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “St. Spiridon” Emergency Hospital, 700111 Iasi, Romania
| | - Ana Maria Sîngeap
- Department of Gastroenterology “Grigore T. Popa”, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania; (L.H.); (C.S.); (C.M.M.); (T.C.); (S.C.); (S.Z.); (O.P.); (A.M.S.); (I.G.); (C.S.); (C.C.)
- Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “St. Spiridon” Emergency Hospital, 700111 Iasi, Romania
| | - Irina Gîrleanu
- Department of Gastroenterology “Grigore T. Popa”, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania; (L.H.); (C.S.); (C.M.M.); (T.C.); (S.C.); (S.Z.); (O.P.); (A.M.S.); (I.G.); (C.S.); (C.C.)
- Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “St. Spiridon” Emergency Hospital, 700111 Iasi, Romania
| | - Cătălin Sfarti
- Department of Gastroenterology “Grigore T. Popa”, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania; (L.H.); (C.S.); (C.M.M.); (T.C.); (S.C.); (S.Z.); (O.P.); (A.M.S.); (I.G.); (C.S.); (C.C.)
- Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “St. Spiridon” Emergency Hospital, 700111 Iasi, Romania
| | - Camelia Cojocariu
- Department of Gastroenterology “Grigore T. Popa”, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania; (L.H.); (C.S.); (C.M.M.); (T.C.); (S.C.); (S.Z.); (O.P.); (A.M.S.); (I.G.); (C.S.); (C.C.)
- Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “St. Spiridon” Emergency Hospital, 700111 Iasi, Romania
| | - Anca Trifan
- Department of Gastroenterology “Grigore T. Popa”, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania; (L.H.); (C.S.); (C.M.M.); (T.C.); (S.C.); (S.Z.); (O.P.); (A.M.S.); (I.G.); (C.S.); (C.C.)
- Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “St. Spiridon” Emergency Hospital, 700111 Iasi, Romania
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +40-726108428
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