Risk of needle-stick injuries in the transmission of hepatitis C virus in hospital personnel

To assess the risk to hospital personnel of acquiring an hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection as a result of occupational exposure to needle-stick injuries, 81 employees who had parenteral exposure to an anti-HCV-positive source were followed for 12 months. None developed hepatitis and anti-HCV testing by a second-generation ELISA system of serum samples collected on the day of exposure and at 3, 6 and 12 months was negative. Consequently, a low efficacy of needle-stick injuries in the transmission of HCV in hospital personnel may be suggested.