| Theme |
New Strategies to Control Viral Hepatitis in Dialysis Patients |
| Title |
Viral hepatitis among dialysis patients inthe world：current situation and future aspects |
| Author |
Keita Morikane |
Infectious Disease Surveillance Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases |
| Author |
Makiko Yoshida |
Field Epidemiology Training Program, National Instituteof Infectious Diseases |
| Author |
Toshihiro Mitsuda |
Division of Infection Control and Epidemiology, Yokohama City University Hospital |
| [ Summary ] |
The epidemiology of hepatitis C in the general population as well as dialysis patients varies from county to country. Incidence rates for hepatitis Cin the Japanese dialysis population are several times higher than in the United States, highlighting the necessity for immediate action to reducet ransmission of the hepatitis C virus. Globally accepted guidelines regarding prevention of healthcare-associated infection have been published by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, those guidelines are applicable to healthcare settings similar to those in the US. The authors visited several dialysis centers in the US as well as those in European countries, and learned that situations related to dialysis setting sare completely different than those in our country. There is a need for implementation of Japanese policies regarding prevention of hepatitis C transmission in clinical settings. |