GB virus C infection in hemodialysis patients: Molecular evidence for nosocomial transmission
Journal
Journal of Infectious Diseases
Journal Volume
180
Journal Issue
1
Pages
191-194
Date Issued
1999
Author(s)
Abstract
Studies of the prevalence and clinical relevance of GB virus C (GBV-C) infection in 328 hemodialysis (HD) patients were done, and the possibility of nosocomial GBV-C transmission was explored by molecular epidemiology methods. For GBV-C viremic patients in a given HD unit, nucleotide sequences of the envelope region were analyzed by phylogenetic tree constructions. Of 328 HD patients, active hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus (HCV), and GBV-C infection were detected in 13%, 23%, and 17%, respectively. Except for a higher frequency of HCV coinfection, the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with and without GBV-C infection were comparable. In contrast, patients with isolated HCV infection had significantly higher serum transaminase levels, longer time on HD, and more blood transfusions. Phylogenetic analysis showed several distinct clusters of closely related GBV-C isolates from one HD unit, suggesting the possibility of nosocomial transmission. These results suggest that GBV-C plays a minimal role in causing hepatitis in Taiwanese HD patients and in nosocomial transmission.
SDGs
Other Subjects
alanine aminotransferase; adult; aged; alanine aminotransferase blood level; article; disease transmission; female; hemodialysis; hemodialysis patient; hepatitis; hepatitis B; hepatitis C; Hepatitis G virus; hospital infection; human; major clinical study; male; nucleotide sequence; phylogeny; priority journal; sequence analysis; virus transmission; Adult; Aged; Cross Infection; Epidemiology, Molecular; Female; Flaviviridae; Hepatitis, Viral, Human; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Renal Dialysis; Taiwan
Type
journal article