What to know
- Presentation Day/Time: Thursday, April 24, 1:45–2:05 pm
- Presenter: Roisin McElroy, MD, MPH, EIS officer assigned to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Bureau of Communicable Disease
What did we do?
- In January 2024, the New York State Department of Health reported eight hepatitis C virus (HCV) seroconversions among patients at four hemodialysis centers, all linked to procedures at Clinic A. We investigated the outbreak to identify additional cases and prevent further transmission.
What did we find?
- A former Clinic A provider was reported in September 2023 for suspected injectable drug diversion and had acute HCV infection during the exposure period.
- Among 26 patients identified, 22 (85%) had new positive HCV antibody or RNA tests after procedures involving this provider.
- The Global Hepatitis Outbreak and Surveillance Technology analyses from 17 (65%) patients identified nearly identical HCV strains, indicating a single cluster of recent transmission.
- Blood collected from the provider in November 2023 had insufficient virus for sequencing.
Why does it matter?
- Epidemiologic and laboratory findings suggest a common exposure source, likely provider-to-patient HCV transmission through injectable drug diversion.
- Monitoring for drug diversion, including reporting of suspicious behavior, is crucial for patient safety.
Abstract Category: Healthcare-Associated Infections, Hepatitis