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Abstract Details
Screening Emergency Admissions at Risk of Chronic Hepatitis C (SEARCH) to diagnose or
David Stephen Prince12, Joseph Louis Pipicella13, Melissa Fraser1, Frank Alvaro14, Michael Maley124, Hong Foo145, Paul MacConachie Middleton12367, Scott Anthony Davison12, Greg John Dore8, Geoff William McCaughan79, Miriam Tania Levy123
Author information
1Liverpool Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
2The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
3The Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
4NSW Health Pathology, Liverpool, NSW, Australia.
5School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
6South Western Emergency Research Institute, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
7Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
8Kirby Institute, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
9AW Morrow Gastroenterology and Liver Centre, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
Abstract
The World Health Organization has set ambitious viral hepatitis elimination targets; however, difficulties in identifying and engaging patients remain. The emergency visit is an opportunity for enhanced linkage to care (LTC). We assessed the effectiveness of an automated Emergency Department (ED) screening service in identifying patients with hepatitis C (HCV) and achieving LTC. A retrospective evaluation was undertaken, analysing the first 5000 patients screened through an automatic Australian service termed 'Screening Emergency Admissions at Risk of Chronic Hepatitis' (SEARCH). Screening was performed for those recommended in the Australian national testing policy, specifically overseas born (OB) and Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders (ATSI). Healthcare worker education, patient information materials and opt-out informed consent were used to test sera already collected for biochemistry assays. 5000 of 5801 (86.2%) consecutive eligible patients were screened (OB: 4778, ATSI: 222) from 14 093 ED presentations. HCV antibody was positive in 181 patients (3.6%); 51 (1.0%) were HCV RNA positive. Of 51 HCV RNA-positive patients, 12 were new diagnoses, 32 were 're-diagnoses' (aware but lost to follow-up [LTFU]), and 7 were previously known but treatment contraindicated. LTC was successful in 38 viraemic patients (7 deceased, 4 LTFU, 1 treatment ineligible and 1 declined). Of RNA-negative patients, 75 were previously treated and 49 had presumed spontaneous clearance. Opt-out consent was acceptable to all patients and staff involved. ED screening can lead to additional diagnosing and 're-diagnosing' of HCV, with high rates of LTC. Opt-out consent and automation removed major obstacles to testing.