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Update on Hepatitis C Screening and Management: Actions for Emergency Departments

  • Infectious Disease (J Glauser, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Emergency and Hospital Medicine Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Review epidemiology, screening recommendations, management, and treatment of hepatitis C virus and strategies to expand diagnosis and effective linkage to care.

Recent Findings

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections have increased threefold from 2010 to 2016 and close to half of people infected remain unaware of their HCV status. Emergency departments and hospitals are points of care where health care is provided to people who often do not otherwise receive regular primary health care and recommended screening tests. Recent studies in emergency departments have shown that expanded testing can identify many people with chronic HCV infection who would otherwise remain undiagnosed.

Summary

Hepatitis C infection can impact the health of patients who are admitted to emergency departments and hospitals. Expanded screening can identify patients at risk of HCV-related liver disease, get them linked to care and treatment, and prevent progression of liver disease, HCV-related deaths, and transmission of infection. Actions that expand HCV screening in emergency departments are an important response to address the increasing number of HCV infections in the USA.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy (reflects a name change from 6/10/19) Policy, 330 C. Street SW, Ste L100, Washington, DC, 20024, USA

    Corinna Dan

  2. Department of Human Services, Division of Public Health, Arlington, VA, USA

    Lisa Kaplowitz

Authors
  1. Corinna Dan
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  2. Lisa Kaplowitz
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Correspondence to Corinna Dan.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.The findings of this article are those of the authors.

They do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

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Dan, C., Kaplowitz, L. Update on Hepatitis C Screening and Management: Actions for Emergency Departments. Curr Emerg Hosp Med Rep 7, 53–58 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40138-019-00183-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40138-019-00183-4

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