Prevalence of Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C in Patients undergoing hemodialysis at a teaching hospital in Uttarakhand

INTRODUCTION: Hemodialysis (HD) requires blood exposure to infectious materials through the extracorporeal circulation for a prolonged period, and exposure to risk factors for nosocomial infections is always there. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of hepatitis B and hepatitis C in patients undergoing hemodialysis and evaluate the various modes of transmission involved in the causation of the infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 60 patients with chronic kidney disease, admitted to our hospital for HD, were screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-HCV antibodies. A questionnaire was designed to evaluate risk factors and data were generated to evaluate the significance of the association. RESULTS: Out of 60 subjects, an anti-HCV antibody was detected in 31.68% of patients and 11.66% of patients were positive for HBsAg. The maximum anti-HBV-positive patients were in >60 years of age group (11.53%), whereas the maximum HCV-positive patients were between 41 and 50 age group (23.07%). Most of the HCV-positive patients (54.54%), as well as HBV-positive patients (23.52%), received hemodialysis 50 to 100 times. The major primary disease-causing end-stage renal disease (ESRD) included chronic nephritis (35%). The duration of dialysis, multiple blood transfusions, drug addiction, and body piercing/tattooing were also observed as significant risk factors. CONCLUSION: In HD patients, viral hepatitis poses a significant health hazard, particularly in developing countries. HBV vaccination, strict adherence to the universal precautions, segregation of HBV-positive patients can control HBV infection in HD units. However, for HCV, the absence of a specific vaccine and the nosocomial transmission of the virus increase the peril more.