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HCV & Re-Use of Syringes, China Latest Outbreak....Prevention
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Outbreak....Prevention
Is a global concern & one that can transmit diseases including HCV & HBV.....in the USA in recent years there have been all too many reports of HCV transmissions in clinics where syringes were re-used. In developing countries it appears to have been a major source of HCV transmissions and of note most recently this appears to have occurred again in China just days ago. In Pakistan as you can see below it is suspected to have been a major source of HCV transmission, historically in Egypt as well. It is understandable why clinician's in undeveloped & developing nations re-use syringes but it is unacceptable & preventable, in the USA and in Western Europe it occurs with several major news stories in the past few years in the USA reporting these occurrences. The international health organizations & major needle manufacturers can and should more effectively work together certainly to address the problem in developing & undeveloped countries but to have occurred in recent years in the USA is just startling and without excuse. Advocates can also play a role in this all over the world but particularly in developing countries by at the very least drawing attention to the problem & discussing the relatively easy solutions and y developing relationships with major disposable needle manufacturing companies like Becton Dickinson. Drug companies making new HCV drugs can play a crucial role by highlighting this problem particularly in developing countries but also in Russia and other Eastern European countries, what a prevention technique this would be!!! and this might be a useful way to develop relationships with difficult Eastern European governments regarding providing access to new HCV therapies.
Reused Needles Blamed for Over 200 Hepatitis C Cases, China: Children caught hepatitis misuse of syringes
November 29, 2011 · 4:48 a.m. · updated at 7:47 a.m.
A private clinic in central China with hepatitis C infected dozens of people, mostly children, by improper use of syringes, said on Tuesday the official Chinese newspaper Global Times .
After the first suspect, 56 patients were examined and 13 of them tested positive for hepatitis C after being treated at the clinic's location Miaoqian Maqiao in the central province of Henan.
Also there were cases in neighboring Anhui province, where some parents from areas near the Henan took their children to the health center. Hepatitis C is usually transmitted via blood and has no vaccine.
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DEADLY NEEDLES: Fast Track to Global Disaster....INVISIBLE EPIDEMIC 1920-87
SF Gate Special: Deadly Needles
www.sfgate.com/news/special/pages/1998/04/needles/
"California's occupational safety agency has proposed aggressive new regulations requiring the use of safety needles to stem a deadly epidemic of needle sticks10 million people a year were contracting lethal diseases such as hepatitis and AIDS through the reuse of contaminated syringes.....an earlier internal WHO study had revealed an even more alarming figure: Every year as many as 1.8 million people infected by contaminated syringes, mostly children, would die -- about one every 20 seconds.....WHO reports made it painfully clear that world health officials had an international medical crisis on their hands -- and urgent action was needed.....the world's leading syringe manufacturers first ignored the problem, then either delayed the new technology or did little to get it into the hands of health workers.....
.......In 1984, hepatitis was found in more than 15 percent of syringes discarded in Florence, Italy. In 1986, researchers reported from Zaire that syringes transmitted monkey pox and that people who received more injections had higher rates of HIV infection.In 1987, the CDC reported that of nine African countries surveyed, not one sterilized syringes before vaccinations."
200 Chinese infected with hepatitis by suspected re-use of unsanitary syringes
http://zeenews.india.com Last Updated: Sunday, December 04, 2011
Beijing: Over 200 people in China, including many children, have been infected with the hepatitis C virus after reusing needles at a rural clinic.
Till Dec 1, 105 people from Dancheng of Woyang county in Anhui province tested positive for the disease, while 104 people in Maqiao of Yongcheng city in Henan province also tested positive, a health official told Xinhua.
Investigators are focusing on a 60-year-old doctor at a privately-run clinic in Maqiao, who is suspected of causing the infection by reusing old needles.
Residents said the doctor, who has been practising for four decades, seldom changed needles.
He is reportedly called the "miracle doctor" for his ability to alleviate patients' fever and diarrhoea through injections and a few tablets.
Hepatitis C is mainly transmitted through contact with infected blood. It can also spread through sex, and from mother to baby during delivery.
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China probes outbreak of Hepatitis C, unclean needles blamed
English.news.cn 2011-12-01 17:34:54
xinhuanet.com
HEFEI, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Health authorities are investigating an outbreak of Hepatitis C in east and central China in which the reuse of needles by an unlicensed doctor is suspected as the cause.
A group of experts dispatched by the Ministry of Health are tracing the outbreak in Anhui and Henan provinces after more than 100 people in two neighboring townships were found infected with the Hepatitis-C virus, according to provincial health officials.
Guocheng County of Anhui has reported 76 infection cases, while 104 people in Yongcheng City in Henan have also tested positive for the virus in a preliminary screening.
Investigators are focusing on an unlicensed village clinic doctor in Maqiao Township of Yongcheng who is suspected of having caused the outbreak by reusing needles.
Residents said Wu Wenyi, the clinic doctor, seldom changed needles, and he is known as the "miracle doctor" for his ability to alleviate patients' fever and diarrhea through injections and a few tablets.
"He always gives injections in private and nobody knows the prescription. And he will curse if anyone reminds him to change the used needles," an anonymous resident said.
Guoyang County People's Hospital has screened more than 1,000 locals since Nov. 17, said Niu Chuanxi, head of the hospital's examination department.
Feng Lizhong, a spokesman with the Anhui Provincial Health Department, said that further investigations are still needed to determine if Wu's clinic was the infection source.
"We can make such a conclusion only when we find that the virus samples from the carriers are of the same strain as those taken from the needles or drugs in Wu's clinic," he added.
The county government of Guoyang is considering offering medical subsidies to the patients, said an official.
Hepatitis C is mainly transmitted through contact with infected blood. It can also spread through sex and from mother to baby during delivery. The infection may lead to liver cancer.
NY Daily News: In the 1990s, Henan province was rocked by unsanitary blood plasma-buying schemes and tainted blood transfusions that allowed HIV to gain a foothold. Operators often used dirty needles, and people selling plasma - the liquid in blood - received replenishment from a pooled blood supply.
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HCV/HBV in Pakistan 8% Syringe Re-Use in Pakistan
www.natap.org/2011/newsUpdates/062911_04.htm
Jun 29, 2011 - The doctors prescribed injections and medicines that were really expensive. How are ... are responsible, in many cases, for the spread of the virus due to unsafe techniques. These include the re-use of syringes and needles
Unsafe Injections: a Potential Source of HCV Spread in Pakistan
jpma.org
Pakistan has a high prevalence of hepatitis C infection. Sixty percent prevalence among liver cancer patients, 51% among beta thalassaemia major patients, 46% among hemodialysed patients, 43% among chronic liver disease patients, 180% among cirrhotics, 20% among commercial blood donors, 6% among residents of Hafizabad conimunity and 2.4% among first time family blood donors in Karachi is alarming1,2. Blood transfusion cannot be considered the only source of spread as at maximum 1% of general population receives blood transfusion a year3. High prevalence of endemic transfusion of HCV infection indicates some other possible source of spread of the disease ill the country4. Sexual and vertical transmissions are not significant in cases of hepatitis C infections, so they cannot play a major role in the spread of the disease in the country. Four percent prevalence of hepatitis C infection among first time illiterate family blood donors, comparing 0.7% among higher secondary literate blood donors5 and 5% prevalence of hepatitis C infection among first time family blood donors residing in low socio-economics localities, comparing 1% among first time family blood donors staying in central and more urban part of the city indicate some correlation of hepatitis C infection with low socio-economic conditions and poor health care practices6. Strong correlation of hepatitis C infection with injection practice in Hafizabad community suggest that injection practices in Pakistan are not safe and they are a major source of the spread of the disease7. In Egyypt. nationwide injection campaign against schistomsomisasis between 1920 and 1980 played a major role in the extensive spread of hepatitis C virus, leading to the high prevalence of hepatitis C infection in the population. Studies conducted in China have also established the risk of transmission of hepatitis C infection through unsafe injection practices8. Pakistan has the highest frequency of injections in the world, along with Ecuador and a former Soviet Union republic8. Every Pakistani receive 8.5 injections a year on average. Among them 49% receive injections on their first out-patient visit. The major cause of high Iiequency of injections is the belief that injections work faster and they are more powerful in actions. I Heath care providers also promote injection practices because of their financial incentives. Injection multivitamin is one of the most frequently prescribed injection in the country while in standard clinical practice, it has few indications for parenteral use. According to International Marketing Survey Injection Neurobin - a vitamin B complex injection-had estimated market in the year 1999-2000, 23.34 million, comparing estimated market of neurobion tablets, around 31.63 million, suggesting 1:1.3 ratio of parenteral prescription to oral prescriptions9.
In addition to unnecessary use of injections. injection practices al-c also not safe in the country. A study conducted in Karachi. observing injection practices at 18 clinics in pen-urban areas have reported 94% injections administered were not safe10. Similarly India reported more than 93% use of injections unsafe11; 60% hepatitis B infection in India and 40% hepatitis C infection in Egypt have been attributed to unsafe injection practices12. Risk of transmission of hepatitis C through HCV contaminated needles is around 6%. Ihe 44% prevalence of hepatitis C infection among the recipients of unsafe injection in the country is shocking10 and warrants investigation of the role of multi dose vials in enhancing this risk. Some published reports have linked transmission of hepatitis B and C infection through the use of contaminated multi dose vials 3 4. Recently government has introduced a ban on the use of multiple dose vials, but veterinary preparation are being used in some clinics for human beings. Lack of awareness regarding the risk associated with unsafe injections, prevalence of quackery and malpractices in health care profession, lack of injection supplies, increased cost and lack of system for the disposal of sharp waste are some of the factors that are promoting unsafe injection practices in the country.
Injection technology has developed considerably since its beginning in the eighteenth century, moving from glass syringes that require sterilization after each use to plastic disposable syringes designed to be discarded after a single use. More recently. auto disable disposable syringes blocked automatically after one single use have been developed. Nevertheless, most of the patients in the country cannot afford these more advanced technologies which may cost twice as much as standard injection equipment. Pakistan has an estimated market of around 300 million, disposable syringes, but there is no proper waste management system of used syringes. According to a recently conducted study in Karachi 80% of used syringes are discarded in the community waste site without proper decontamination and destruction. Syringes, being a plastic ware, have a demand in the plastic ware industry. Sweepers. cleaners in health care facilities and scavengers at community waste site collect these syringes and sell them in the wholesale market of reusable items. People involved in this business frequently come in contact with contaminated syringes and often receive needle stick injuries. No data is available to know the prevalence of blood transmitted infections among them, but certain lv they are at a high risk. The same study observed the possible opportunity for the resale of used syringes following washing and repacking.
Issue of unnecessary injections. unsafe practices, role of multi dose vials and disposal of used syringes are very complex and relate to the prevalent socio-economic conditions, health care system and moral and ethical values.
It is high time to have an intervention program to control the spread of HCV infection and other blood transmitted diseases through unnecessary and unsafe injection practices in the country. To change the attitude from injection overuse towards oral medications, behavioral changes of patients and health care workers should be encouraged through the combination of supportive measures information, education and communication (lEC) activities. Health infrastructures must be adapted and the issue of negative incentive (e.g. higher fee for services when an injection is prescribed) must be addressed, bearing in mind that oral treatment is less labor intensive (requring less health workers) and often more cost effective (cheaper drugs. less staff involved). In addition, to achieve injection safety, injection supplies and disposal infrastructure must be developed12.
There is a need to keep disposable syringes at affordable price and all kind of taxes and duties should be exempted. However, promotion of disposable syringes should be complemented with establishment of efficient sharp disposal management system. Lach use of a new disposable syringe generates one more used syringe, offering more opportunity for resale and risking the life of people who come in contact with used syringes in absence of incineration facilities, cutting of needle before their disposal is being promoted to safe guard against it's possible reuse. However, disposal of cut needles sometimes becomes more difficult and hazardous. Cut needles having no resale value remain lying on community waste site. Burial of these cut needles can effectively prevent needles stick injuries to passerbys. In poor socio-economic settings where use of disposable syringes and management of sharp waste is not cost effective, education on proper method of sterilization is needed. Careful supervision of staff and good management can ensure the safety of injections at at fordable price15.
Because of the complexity of the problem, assistance from different types of professionals are needed (e.g. public health officers, infection control practitioners. epidem iologists, anthropologists, specialists, in behavior development, researchers in administration technology, environmentalists). Because little experience is available regarding integrated programs that link the community with the health system to aim a safe and appropriate use of injections, Safe injection Global Network (SIGN) has been established throughout the world, including Pakistan. It consists of United Nation Organizations and other governmental and non-governmental organizations and donors, sharing a common interest in a safe and appropriate use of injections. The network is supported by a permanent secretariat located within the blood safety and clinical technology (BCT) department of the World Health Oraganizations.
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