Hong Kong health authorities are investigating a suspected case of hepatitis C transmission in a public hospital after a patient tested positive for the viral infection, with checks being conducted on 14 others.
Princess Margaret Hospital said a 24-year-old man had become infected after staying in the same ward cubicle as a 52-year-old hepatitis C carrier between April and May, with tests showing a link between the pair.
“Genetic sequencing showed that both patients are infected with hepatitis C with identical genetic sequence,” a hospital spokesman said on Thursday night.
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“The two cases are epidemiologically linked and nosocomial infection of the 24-year-old male patient cannot be ruled out,” he said, referring to infections acquired during a hospital stay.
Hepatitis C is an infectious disease transmitted through blood, bodily fluids, or from a mother to child during labour. People carrying the virus could remain asymptomatic for decades after infection.
About 0.3 per cent of Hong Kong’s population were estimated to have been previously infected with hepatitis C.
The hospital in Kwai Chung said the 24-year-old man was first admitted for treatment of a head injury on March 21, and was later transferred to a high dependency unit of the neurosurgery department on April 11.
He tested negative for hepatitis C in a test performed in mid April, but returned a positive reading on June 15 following recordings of elevated liver enzymes.
The hospital said it was “very concerned” about the case as the man was staying in the facility during that period and authorities had looked into the possible route of transmission.
The spokesman said the two patients required frequent use of invasive catheters, blood tests and intravenous injections. Both patients also underwent wound care procedures during their hospital stay.
All these procedures could increase the risk of infection, the spokesman said.
Common causes of hepatitis C transmission included shared use of needles and syringes, or tattoo and body piercing equipment.
Transmission in a healthcare setting could also occur when infection control practices were breached.
Antiviral drugs have been prescribed to the infected young man and health authorities have explained the situation to his family, according to the hospital.
The patient was in a serious condition due to an underlying disease.
According to information from the Department of Health, antiviral drugs are highly effective and can cure more than 90 per cent of hepatitis C infections.
The ward in question has been disinfected thoroughly and contact tracing has identified 16 patients, including the 24-year-old, who had stayed in the same cubicle in the same period of time.
One of the 16 patients had died from an underlying condition.
The spokesman said liver function and viral testing, as well as general health surveillance, would be arranged for the patients.
The hospital has reported the case to the Centre for Health Protection and the Hospital Authority head office.
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