Title : Hepatitis C virus infection among healthcare workers at a tertiary referral hospital in Peru: Prevalence, risk exposures, and knowledge
Abstract:
Background: Healthcare workers are potentially exposed to hepatitis C virus (HCV) through contact with blood, needlestick injuries, and other occupational exposures. Although improvements in biosafety and blood screening have substantially reduced transmission, contemporary information on HCV infection among healthcare workers in Latin America y Peru remains limited. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of HCV infection and characterize HCV-related risk exposures and knowledge among healthcare workers at a tertiary referral hospital in Peru.
Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among healthcare workers at Hospital Nacional Daniel Alcides Carrión, Callao, Peru, between October and December 2024. Participants underwent HCV screening using a rapid anti-HCV antibody test, with reactive results subsequently confirmed by HCV RNA polymerase chain reaction. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic and occupational characteristics, exposure to HCV-related risk factors, and knowledge regarding HCV transmission, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. Knowledge was classified as low, intermediate, or high. Categorical variables were compared using the chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test, as appropriate, with a significance level of 0.05.
Results: Of 1,710 healthcare workers employed at the institution, 1,049 agreed to participate and 7 were excluded because of incomplete information, resulting in 1,042 participants included in the final analysis. One participant had a reactive anti-HCV test subsequently confirmed by HCV RNA, corresponding to an HCV prevalence of 0.096% (1/1,042; 95% CI, 0.002–0.534%). At least one HCV-related risk exposure was identified in 96.74% (1,008/1,042) of participants, while 21.69% reported six or more concurrent risk factors. The most prevalent exposures were previous dental procedures (81.57%), use of earrings (64.11%), previous surgery (60.08%), previous hospitalization (49.71%), and occupational needlestick or blood exposure (39.16%). Regarding HCV knowledge, 65.16% of participants had an intermediate level, 21.59% had a high level, and 13.24% had a low level. Important knowledge gaps were identified for transmission through contaminated needles, occupational sharps injuries, and the absence of effective HCV post-exposure prophylaxis. A history of occupational needlestick or blood exposure was reported by 408 participants (39.16%). Among them, physicians accounted for 35.0%, nurses for 28.9%, and nursing technicians for 27.7%. The only participant with confirmed HCV infection was a 33-year-old female physician with previous surgery, transfusion, tattooing, acupuncture, dental procedures, and recurrent occupational sharps injuries. She had chronic HCV infection without significant hepatic fibrosis and achieved virologic cure after treatment with sofosbuvir/velpatasvir.
Conclusions: HCV infection prevalence among healthcare workers at this tertiary Peruvian hospital was very low. Nevertheless, exposure to potential HCV risk factors was highly prevalent, particularly dental procedures, previous surgery, hospitalization, and occupational sharps injuries. Most healthcare workers demonstrated only intermediate HCV knowledge, with relevant misconceptions regarding occupational transmission and post-exposure management. These findings support strengthening occupational surveillance, systematic reporting of sharps injuries, biosafety training, and targeted HCV education among healthcare personnel.
Keywords: Hepatitis C virus; Healthcare Workers; Occupational Exposure; Needlestick Injury; Prevalence; Biosafety; Peru
