GB virus C infection in hemodialysis patients: Molecular evidence for nosocomial transmission

Jia Horng Kao, Ching Huai Huang, Wendy Chen, Tun Jun Tsai, Su Hui Lee, Kuan Yu Hung, Ding Shinn Chen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Studies of the prevalence and clinical relevance of GB virus C (GBV-C) infection in 328 hemodialysis (HD) patients were done, and the possibility of nosocomial GBV-C transmission was explored by molecular epidemiology methods. For GBV-C viremic patients in a given HD unit, nucleotide sequences of the envelope region were analyzed by phylogenetic tree constructions. Of 328 HD patients, active hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus (HCV), and GBV-C infection were detected in 13%, 23%, and 17%, respectively. Except for a higher frequency of HCV coinfection, the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with and without GBV-C infection were comparable. In contrast, patients with isolated HCV infection had significantly higher serum transaminase levels, longer time on HD, and more blood transfusions. Phylogenetic analysis showed several distinct clusters of closely related GBV-C isolates from one HD unit, suggesting the possibility of nosocomial transmission. These results suggest that GBV-C plays a minimal role in causing hepatitis in Taiwanese HD patients and in nosocomial transmission.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)191-194
Number of pages4
JournalJournal of Infectious Diseases
Volume180
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1999
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Infectious Diseases

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