Overview of blood-borne viral infections in hemodialysis patients: hepatitis B, hepatitis C, human immunodeficiency virus infections

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to examine the blood-borne viral infections such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and to determine the risk factors in hemodialysis patients.
 Material and Method: The datas of patients who underwent hemodialysis in the hemodialysis unit of our hospital between March 1, 2020 and March 1, 2021 were reviewed retrospectively. Their sociodemographic characteristics, habits, underlying diseases and virological indicators related to hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV were obtained from patient files and hospital data processing system.
 Results:A total of 96 patients were included in the study. Of them, 43.8% (n=42) were female and 56.2% (n=54) were male. Their mean age was 62.61±18.11 years, ranging from 17 to 92. The duration of dialysis was less than 3 months for 46.9% (n=45) of the patients, between 3 months and 3 years for 19.8% (n=19), and 3 years and above for 33.3% (n=32). Thirty patients (31.3%) had diabetes mellitus. In addition, 1% (n=1) of the patients had HBsAg positivity, 3.1% (n=3) had anti-HCV positivity, 59.4% (n=57) had Anti- HBs positivity and 2.1% (n=2) had anti-HIV positivity. No statistically significant difference was found between the patients’ HBsAg, anti-HCV and anti-HIV positivity according to gender, duration of dialysis, dialysis application site, alcohol use, surgical intervention and blood transfusion history (p>0.05).
 Conclusion: Hemodialysis patients may be at risk for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV infection if infection control guidelines are not followed strictly. In addition to complying with these guidelines, both health workers and patients should be trained constantly, patients’ virological indicators should be tested regularly and hepatitis B vaccine should be administered to hemodialysis patients without seroconversion.