Abstract

Infection with hepatitis C virus (hepatitis C) is an important medical and social problem in Poland and worldwide. The etiologic factor of this disease is hepatitis C virus (HCV), which is transmitted via blood and blood-derived products.

The routes of infection with HCV are various types of damage (disruption) of tissue continuity, and contact with infected blood, e.g. medical procedures and occupational exposure).  

According to the reports by the Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine in Łódź, Poland, the majority of cases of infection with HCV or HBV were due to occupational infection in Polish hospitals. HCV antibodies (anti-HCV) were found among the examined medical staff, including nurses, e.g. in 2009 (1.40%); 2011 (1.42%); and in 2013 (0.80%).

Approximately 60-90% of all cases of infection with HCV registered in Poland are associated with the provision of medical services within the system of health care. Therefore, this type of infection is frequently reported as a hospital-acquired infection. Most frequently hospital-acquired infections due to HCV occur in the following wards: surgical, transplant, maternity (infections of newborns via vertical transmission), dialysis centres, endoscopy laboratories, and in dental surgeries - in these places there is a risk of infection for nurses.

Considering the risk of infection with HCV among nurses and other medical staff it is necessary to observe the procedures of prevention of occupational exposure, proper management of employees after occupational exposure (immediate laboratory tests of the employee and the patient, post-exposure prophylactic administration of immunoglobulin or antiviral agents).

Considering a high risk of infection with HCV in medical facilities among nurses and other medical staff it is necessary to conduct a wide range of non-specific methods of prevention – lack of specific methods.