Update: Investigations of West Nile virus infections in recipients of organ transplantation and blood transfusion--Michigan, 2002.
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On September 27, 2002, this report was posted on the MMWR website (http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr). CDC, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), and state and local health departments continue to investigate West Nile virus (WNV) infections in recipients of organ transplantation and blood transfusion. This report summarizes two investigations of Michigan recipients of blood products, one of whom also received a liver transplant. Both persons tested positive for WNV infection after receiving blood products derived from a single blood donation subsequently found to have evidence of WNV. These investigations provide further evidence that WNV is transmitted through blood transfusion. (+info)
Investigations of West Nile virus infections in recipients of blood transfusions.
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CDC, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), in collaboration with blood collection agencies and state and local health departments, continue to investigate West Nile virus (WNV) infections in recipients of blood transfusions. During August 28-October 26, CDC received reports of 47 persons with possible transfusion-related WNV infection. Investigations showed that 14 of these persons either did not have WNV infection or did not acquire WNV infection through transfusion. The remaining 33 cases, reported from 17 states, occurred among persons who had confirmed or probable WNV infection and had received blood components in the month before illness onset. To date, evidence that WNV can be transmitted through blood transfusion has been found in six of the 33 cases; investigations are ongoing for the other 27 cases. (+info)
Epidemiology of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and tuberculosis among minority injection drug users.
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OBJECTIVE: This article reviews the literature on the impact of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV, HCV), and tuberculosis on minority drug injectors in the United States. OBSERVATIONS: Injection drug use is a key factor in the transmission of blood-borne pathogens, and HIV disease is exacerbated by tuberculosis infection. Minority drug injectors are disproportionately represented in the national statistics on these infections. Behavioral epidemiologic studies show that both injection-related risk factors years of injecting drugs, type of drug injected, direct and indirect sharing of injection paraphernalia) and sex-related risk factors (lack of condom use, multiple sexual partners, survival sex) are conducive to the spread of HIV, HBV, and HCV. CONCLUSIONS: Two issues must be addressed to halt the spread of HIV infection and hepatitis B and C. The capacity of syringe-exchange programs to refer participants to drug treatment programs and facilitate access to health and social services must be increased. Culturally appropriate behavioral interventions targeting risk behaviors among ethnic and racial minorities, especially women, must be developed and put in place. (+info)
Risk factors for hepatitis B virus infection in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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BACKGROUND: Despite international efforts to prevent hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection through global vaccination programs, new cases are still being reported throughout the world. METHODS: To supply data that might assist in improving preventive measures and national surveillance for HBV infection, a cross-sectional study was conducted among individuals referred to the Brazilian National Reference Center for Viral Hepatitis (Rio de Janeiro) during a two-year period. Reported risk factors among infected subjects ("HBV-positive") were compared to those of subjects never exposed ("HBV-negative") to HBV. Two subgroups were further identified within the HBV-positive group, "acute" infection and "non-acute" infection. RESULTS: A total of 1,539 subjects were tested for HBV, of which 616 were HBV-positive (79 acute infection and 537 non-acute infection). HBV-positive subjects were more likely to be of male gender (63% versus 47%); and to report multiple sexual partners (12% versus 6%) and illicit drug use (IDU and/or intranasal cocaine use) (6% versus 3%). Among the HBV-positive subgroups, age differed significantly, with 48% being under 30 years of age in subjects acutely infected compared to 17% in those with non-acute infection. CONCLUSIONS: The association of multiple sexual partners with past HBV infection and the age distribution of currently infected subjects suggest that sexual transmission played a major role in the transmission of HBV in this study population. Thus, vaccination during adolescence should be considered. (+info)
Prevalence of safer needle devices and factors associated with their adoption: results of a national hospital survey.
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OBJECTIVES: In this study, we collected and analyzed the first data available on the extent of the adoption of safer needle devices (engineered sharps injury protections [ESIPs]) by U.S. hospitals and on the degree to which selected factors influence the use of this technology. METHODS: We gathered data via a telephone survey of a random sample of 494 U.S. hospitals from November 1999 through February 2000. RESULTS: Although 83% of the sample reported some ESIP adoption, adoption was inconsistent across types of devices. All of the appropriate units in 52% of the facilities had adopted needleless intravenous delivery systems, but the hospitals used other types of ESIPs less often. A respondent's perception that the cost of ESIPs would not be a problem for the hospital was the best predictor of adoption of ESIPs in the facility, explaining 8% of the variance. Other predictors of adoption included the size of the hospital and the presence or absence of state legislative activity on the needlestick issue. CONCLUSIONS: Smaller hospitals may require special encouragement and assistance from outside sources to adopt expensive risk-reduction innovations such as ESIPs. Although use of ESIPs is the mandated and preferred way to protect workers from needlesticks, complete adoption of this technology will depend on the support of the social systems in which it is used and the people who use it. (+info)
Model-based estimates of risks of disease transmission and economic costs of seven injection devices in sub-Saharan Africa.
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OBJECTIVE: To investigate and compare seven types of injection devices for their risks of iatrogenic transmission of bloodborne pathogens and their economic costs in sub-Saharan Africa. METHODS: Risk assumptions for each device and cost models were constructed to estimate the number of new hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections resulting from patient-to-patient, patient-to-health care worker, and patient-to-community transmission. Costs of device purchase and usage were derived from the literature, while costs of direct medical care and lost productivity from HBV and HIV disease were based on data collected in 1999 in Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, and Uganda. Multivariate sensitivity analyses using Monte Carlo simulation characterized uncertainties in model parameters. Costs were summed from both the societal and health care system payer's perspectives. FINDINGS: Resterilizable and disposable needles and syringes had the highest overall costs for device purchase, usage, and iatrogenic disease: median US dollars 26.77 and US dollars 25.29, respectively, per injection from the societal perspective. Disposable-cartridge jet injectors and automatic needle-shielding syringes had the lowest costs, US dollars 0.36 and US dollars 0.80, respectively. Reusable-nozzle jet injectors and auto-disable needle and syringes were intermediate, at US dollars 0.80 and US dollars 0.91, respectively, per injection. CONCLUSION: Despite their nominal purchase and usage costs, conventional needles and syringes carry a hidden but huge burden of iatrogenic disease. Alternative injection devices for the millions of injections administered annually in sub-Saharan Africa would be of value and should be considered by policy-makers in procurement decisions. (+info)
Blood safety monitoring among persons with bleeding disorders--United States, May 1998-June 2002.
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Since 1998, CDC has collaborated with approximately 140 federally funded hemophilia treatment centers (HTCs) in the United States and its territories through the Universal Data Collection (UDC) surveillance project to monitor blood product safety and detect new viral hepatitis and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections. This report presents findings of investigations conducted during May 1998-June 2002 of 1,149 seroconversions for hepatitis viruses identified among persons with bleeding disorders who were enrolled voluntarily in UDC; 99% of hepatitis A virus (HAV) seroconversions and 90% of hepatitis B virus (HBV) seroconversions were attributed to vaccination programs against HAV or HBV. None of these cases was attributable to blood products received during this time, which indicates that the virally inactivated blood factor concentrates used to treat bleeding disorders are unlikely to transmit viral hepatitis. Regular monitoring of patients ensures the continued safety of blood and blood products. (+info)
The precautionary principle and emerging biological risks: lessons from swine flu and HIV in blood products.
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Two examples-the "swine flu affair" in 1976 and the emergence of HIV in the blood supply in the early 1980s-illustrate the difficulties of decision-making in public health. Both cases illustrate trade-offs between product risks and public health benefits, especially with regard to uncertainty in estimates of product risks, public health risks, and the benefits of prevention. The cases also illustrate the tendency of public health policy makers to go all the way or do nothing at all, rather than consider intermediate options that can be adapted as new information emerges. This review suggests three lessons for public health policy makers: (1) be open and honest about scientific uncertainty; (2) communicate with the public, even when the facts are not clear; and (3) consider intermediate, adaptable policy options, such as obtaining more information, thus reducing uncertainty, and building in decision points to reconsider initial policies. Underlying all of these lessons is the need to commission studies to resolve important uncertainties and increase the information base for public communication, and to review regulations and other policy options in the light of the new data that emerge. (+info)