Screening of Cases of Chronic hepatitis C viral infection among municipal solid waste collectors in Minia city, Egypt

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Community and Occupational medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University

2 Department of Clinical pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University

Abstract

Introduction: Waste collectors have a potential risk of infectious diseases, where more than one third 
of exposures to blood-borne pathogens occurring among garbage collectors. Egypt became one of the 
highest hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection prevalent countries in the world, which increased the 
concern regarding the risk for disease transmission among municipal solid waste (MSW) collectors. 
Lack of education and awareness are the corner stones for a failure to appreciate safety and preventive 
measures during waste handling. Aim of the study: Detection of municipal solid waste collectors in 
Minia city, Egypt, who probably have HCV infection and identifying associated risk factors of HCV 
infection among waste workers. Subjects and methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study was 
conducted in El-Minia city on 171 municipal solid waste collectors aged 29 to 61 years old. An 
interview administered questionnaire was used and included occupational data, socio demographic 
data and different risk factors for HCV infection. Blood samples were collected for ELISA screening 
test for HCV antibodies. Results: laboratory results confirmed that 21.6 % of the municipal solid 
waste collectors were anti-HCV antibodies sero-positive. MSW collectors who experienced sharp 
injuries during the last 12 months of work and those who had history of dental procedures have 9.5 
and 2.91 times more chance to be anti-HCV antibodies seropositive respectively. Conclusion and 
Recommendations: Municipal solid waste collectors are exposed to sharp injuries and are at risk to 
acquiring HCV infection worker health surveillance should be applied, including baseline and 
periodic medical examinations. Health education and providing personal protective equipment should 
also be offered.

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