Detection and potential indicators of the presence of hepatitis C virus on surfaces in hospital settings

AIMS

The risk of hepatitis C virus infection in hospital environments can be assessed not only by studying epidemiological data and work practices, but also by the detection of these viruses (or indicators thereof) in health-care settings, on instruments etc.

METHODS

Since standardized techniques specific to this end do not exist, this study was undertaken to apply methods currently used on clinical samples to the assessment of environmental HCV risk, either through direct detection of the virus (RT-PCR), or by probing for haemoglobin as a potential indicator of blood contamination. The tested techniques were applied in a trial environmental monitoring programme undertaken in various hospital laboratories and clinics, during which total bacterial count determinations were performed in parallel with haemoglobin and hepatitis C virus detection.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The data indicate that the applied methods are of value in detecting low levels of contamination in a hospital environment.

[Contribution to the serologic study of toxoplasmosis in pregnancy]

Toxoplasma antibodies in five women sera during the pregnancy were detected by direct agglutination and immunofluorescent tests both for IgG and IgM. The presence and the changes of the IgG and IgM titers are related to the abortion and/or foetal pathology. In order to prevent such a risk the authors suggest to test all the women before or early in the pregnancy for toxoplasma antibodies.

[Relation between a rapid polyvalent test and single antistreptococcal tests]

ASO and Streptozyme tests have been comparatively tried on 11,200 sera. The former detected 11.96% positive and the latter 13.5%. The difference was due to a greater sensitivity of the Streptozyme test since the most of the Streptozyme positive and ASO negative sera resulted positive in one or more of the single antistreptococcal tests (SK, ADN, SJ, DNA). Only few of the sera which give rise to a positive Streptozyme reaction were otherwise negative and the positive result could be considered aspecific.