Hepatitis B, C and D virus infections in patients and staff in Assiut dialysis unit

Thorough history was taken from 50 HD patients and 30 staff members with special stress on the risk factors that may contribute to hepatitis virus infection in addition to clinical examination, abdominal ultrasound, serological detection of viral markers and liver transaminase estimation. The high percentage of HCV-Ab [74%] and HBs Ag may be due to exposure of uremic patients to various risk factors for virus transmission prior or during HD. The percentage of HCV-Ab [13.3%] in dialysis staff matches that in the community and the absence of HBs Ag could be explained by staff vaccination against HBV