Statistical Epidemiological Study of the Frequency of Infection with Hepatitis B and C Viruses Among Hemodialysis Patients in Tarhouna Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Viral hepatitis B and C infections are an exceptional threat to patients on hemodialysis, and their presentation and clinical course in this group of patients are different from those in the general population. Renal hemodialyses are a common risk factor for such an infection. The patients on hemodialysis are at increased risk of acquiring HBV and HCV infections as compared to the general population. The current retrospective study has presented the epidemiological distribution of HBV and HCV at the Teaching Hospital of Tarhona, Libya. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted from May 2022 to June 2022. It was compiled from data released by the haemodialysis unit's archive in order to estimate the epidemiological prevalence of HBV and HCV in Tarhona and evaluate occurrence in both male and female individuals. The study involved 120 reported cases, of which 72 were males and 48 were females. Results: Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and HCV were detected in 11/120 (9.16%), most of them males. All of the HBsAg and HCV seropositive patients were having hemodialyses three times per week, and most of the infected patients with HBsAg spent four hours in each hemodialyses session. Conclusion: We conclude that HBV and HCV-infected kidney transplant recipients are at a high risk of clinical deterioration. In hemodialyzed patients, HBsAg and HCV have a negative impact on transplantation and patient survival. Recommendations: It is strongly recommended to screen for hepatitis B and C infection by ELISA before each dialysis session, and viral screening for hepatitis must be performed before beginning hemodialysis and on a regular basis thereafter.