Journal Article

Hepatitis C virus outbreak at a pain clinic in Los Angeles

Dao, Bonnie L., Santos, Marita, Gounder, Prabhu, Balter, Sharon E., Terashita, Dawn M., Jewell, Mirna P., Alarcón, Jemma, Donabedian, Christina, Stanley, Adrianna N.

2024

Overview

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a bloodborne pathogen primarily associated with intravenous drug use in the United States.1 HCV outbreaks have been linked to breaches in infection control practices, including improper use of syringes,2 medication vials,2 and other medical equipment.3 Most acute HCV infections are asymptomatic, making acute HCV cases and outbreaks challenging to identify.4 Among ∼2.2 million US adults with hepatitis C; ∼33% are unaware of their infection.5 Also, 50% of acute HCV infections will spontaneously resolve within 6 months.6 During 2022, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH) identified an HCV outbreak associated with an independent pain management clinic in Los Angeles County (LAC), California. According to the clinic’s procedure log, patient B received a procedure on the same day as and before patient A and patient C. All 3 patients had HCV genotype 1b. Recommendations to the clinic included updated infection control practices, proper use of syringes and needles, keeping multidose vials in a dedicated clean medication preparation area (away from immediate patient treatment areas), staff training, and an outbreak notification sign for the clinic to post.8 We continued cross referencing the exposure patient list with the California Department of Public Health and LACDPH HCV registries.

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Subject: Anesthesia / Disease control / Disease Outbreaks / Epidemics / Hepacivirus / Hepatitis / Hepatitis C / Hepatitis C - epidemiology / Humans / Hypodermic needles / Infections / Los Angeles - epidemiology / Medical equipment / Outbreaks / Pain / Pain Clinics / Pathogens / Patients / Public health / Research Brief / Syringes