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Abstract Details
Enhancing Surveillance Protocols for Acute Hepatitis C Virus Infection, Utah, 2014-2019
Public Health Rep. 2023 May-Jun;138(3):410-415. doi: 10.1177/00333549221101381.Epub 2022 Jun 9.
1Epidemic Intelligence Service, Division of Scientific Education and Professional Development, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
2Utah Department of Health, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
3Now with Influenza Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Abstract
During 2014-2019, the Utah Department of Health (UDOH) enhanced its surveillance program for acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections by mandating electronic reporting of negative HCV test results in 2015 and liver function test results in 2016. UDOH also engaged with blood and plasma donation centers beginning in 2014 and syringe exchange programs in 2018 to encourage manual reporting of negative HCV test results from facilities without electronic reporting capabilities. UDOH hepatitis surveillance staff also provided training for case investigations in 2017. The number of cases detected increased 14-fold, from 9 during 2012 to 127 during 2019. In 2019, of 127 cases, 55% (n = 70) were detected through negative HCV test results reported electronically before positive test results (ie, recent seroconversions), 25% (n = 32) through positive HCV test results and elevated liver function test results, 18% (n = 23) through manually reported negative HCV test results, and 2% (n = 2) through positive HCV test results and clinical evidence. Challenges to surveillance included accessing patients for investigations and engaging donation centers in reporting negative test results. Utah's experience demonstrates practical considerations for improving surveillance of acute HCV infections.