Hepatitis C Outbreak Associated With Gynecological Surgery.(Brief Article)

2001 SEP 6 - (NewsRx Network) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - Doctors in Italy have concluded an investigation into an outbreak of hepatitis C virus detected among women who underwent gynecological surgery in the same surgical suite. Evidence points to a contaminated vial of propofol, administered intravenously to induce anesthesia, as the mode of transmission.

The epidemiological investigation, headed by Aldo Manzin of the University of Ancona in Italy, was a collaborative effort by several Italian research institutes. Researchers used genetic fingerprinting to compare the genetic characteristics of the source patient, an HCV infected female who was one of the first patients to undergo surgery in the same room on the same day, and others who became HCV infected in the outbreak cluster. The outbreak points to the need for careful attention to infection control practices in patient settings while it highlights the benefits of genetic analysis for tracking outbreaks, Manzin coworkers said.

According to the research team, the genetic fingerprints of the source patient were almost identical to those of the outbreak patients but not to others infected with HCV who resided in the same geographical location where the outbreak occurred ("Transmission of hepatitis C virus in a gynecological setting," Journal of Clinical Microbiology, August 2001;39(8):2860-2863).