Screening for Chronic Hepatitis C Virus in Hospitalized Patients

Overview

Chronic viral hepatitis C is a public health problem and several management recommendations are available. According to the HAS, hepatitis C screening consists of a targeted screening of people at risk of infection by the virus, in particular to drug users, to people from countries with a high prevalence of the virus or who have received care in those countries, people transfused before 1992, or people who have been or have been imprisoned. Our study proposes to evaluate hepatitis C screening in consenting patients hospitalized in Saint Joseph. These previously identified patients with comorbidities will be cared for according to current national practices that reduce HCV morbidity and mortality.

Hepatitis C screening is based on a blood test, in particular the Elisa test, which looks for anti-HCV antibodies. In the case of positive C viral serology, the search for the C virus from a blood test makes it possible to detect the genome (RNA) of the virus, which is thus directly detected by a so-called "PCR" technique. Although screening activity is important in France, it remains insufficient. In December 2016, HAS concluded that risk-based targeted screening has limitations and contributes to the persistence of a hidden epidemic of viral C infection. It is estimated that 75,000 people are unaware of being carriers of the hepatitis C virus. However, there is safe, effective and well-tolerated treatment. With duration of 8 to 12 weeks it allows a healing of HCV in more than 95% of subjects. AFEF recommendations aim to achieve viral elimination C (as early as 2025). This elimination is defined as a 90% decrease in new infections associated with a 65% reduction in HCV mortality. OMS has planned this target for 2030. To achieve this goal, a number of measures are gradually being implemented focusing on universal treatment and universal screening. The hospital may be a place where systematic screening is interesting. In 2017, the prevalence of anti-HCV positive antibodies in the facility, apart from the Hepato-Gastroenterology service, was 1.7%, more than twice the estimated prevalence in our general population. These data give a rationale for the realization of this study.