The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a health advisory for the growing number of hemodialysis patients who are acquiring hepatitis C virus (HCV). The center is urging dialysis providers and facilities to:
- assess current infection control practices and environmental cleaning and disinfection practices within the facility to ensure adherence to infection control standards;
- address any gaps identified by the assessments;
- screen patients for HCV, following CDC guidelines, to detect infections, determine treatment potential, and halt secondary transmission; and
- promptly report all acute HCV infections to the state or local health department.
Between 2014 and 2015, CDC has been contacted about 36 cases of acute HCV infection in 19 different hemodialysis clinics in eight states. A lack of hand hygiene, injection safety, and environmental disinfection have been identified as common causes.
For more information visit the CDC Dialysis Safety website.