New figures presented on the last day of the Health Protection Agency's (UK) annual conference have revealed that six healthcare workers were infected with hepatitis C through the course of their work, in the last year. This compares to three in the previous five years, all contracted through needlestick injuries.

The figures, collated through the Agency's monitoring programme which looks at significant exposures to blood borne viruses in healthcare settings, has revealed a continuing major problem for healthcare workers in the NHS.

Dr Fortune Ncube, who coordinates the programme for the Agency said, "Some of these injuries are preventable if healthcare workers safely dispose of clinical waste such as needles, and are aware of the risks of needlestick injuries. If a healthcare worker should sustain such an injury it is essential that the injury is reported immediately so that the appropriate testing and treatment can be given. In some cases prompt treatment can prevent the onset of infection. Occupational health staff, virologists and microbiologists involved in the testing and care of healthcare workers sustaining such injuries should also raise awareness of the need to carry out appropriate tests, adhering to national guidelines for their timing."

"We currently have a system for collecting information on injuries and subsequent testing and treatment, however the information we are able to collect is limited and guidelines on testing and treatment are not adhered to in all cases which puts healthcare workers at higher risk of developing a blood borne virus following an injury. The Agency along with other partners, such as the Department of Health, is looking to obtain funding to set up a national sentinel surveillance system which will collect more in-depth information, which in turn we can be used to advise healthcare workers, offer them better protection and prevent injuries."

Since July 1997, 2,138 injuries have been reported to this scheme, of which 54% (1154/2138) involved a significant exposure to a patient who was infected with hepatitis C. The five of the six healthcare workers infected within the last year went on hepatitis C treatment and at the time of reporting, 3 had responded to treatment and cleared the virus, and two were still on treatment. One health care worker cleared the virus spontaneously and was therefore not started on treatment.

Notes to Editors:

1 The Health Protection Agency's Annual Conference takes place at Warwick University from 13 to 15 September. Further information can be found at the conference website at hpaconference

2 Journalists are invited to attend the conference; to book your place please call the Colindale press office on 020 8327 6647/7097.

3 Hepatitis means swelling or inflammation of the liver. The most common causes of hepatitis are viral infections. Hepatitis C infection (also known as Hep C or HCV) is one such virus that can cause long-lasting infection and can lead to liver disease including liver cancer. It is estimated that around 15-20% of infected people clear their infections naturally within the first 6 months of infection. For the remainder, hepatitis C is a chronic infection that can span several decades and can be life-long.

4 The surveillance of significant occupational exposures to bloodborne viruses (BBVs) in health care workers looks at the type of exposures reported to the scheme and the situation surrounding the event. The scheme collects data on the number of health care workers exposed to hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV) and HIV, and information on the use and management of treatment following exposure to these viruses.

5 The first documented case in the UK of a health care worker acquiring HIV following an occupational exposure was in 1984. Following this, a passive surveillance system was established, involving health care workers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland for exposures to HIV. This was changed to a more active surveillance system in July 1997, and was expanded to include hepatitis B and hepatitis C.