Skip to main navigation menu Skip to main content Skip to site footer
##common.pageHeaderLogo.altText##

Review article: Biomedical intelligence

Vol. 143 No. 1920 (2013)

Hepatitis B and C in Switzerland – healthcare provider initiated testing for chronic hepatitis B and C infection

  • Rainer Fretz
  • Francesco Negro
  • Philip Bruggmann
  • Daniel Lavanchy
  • Andrea De Gottardi
  • Isabelle Pache
  • Virginie Masserey Spicher
  • Andreas Cerny
DOI
https://doi.org/10.4414/smw.2013.13793
Cite this as:
Swiss Med Wkly. 2013;143:w13793
Published
05.05.2013

Summary

Hepatitis B and hepatitis C are contagious liver diseases caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and the hepatitis C virus (HCV), respectively. In particular, chronic infection with HBV or HCV is a major public health problem throughout Europe. The majority of persons chronically infected (65%–75%) are not aware of their infection status until symptoms of advanced liver disease appear. In addition, the peak in the number of patients suffering from advanced stages of the disease, such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, has not yet been reached. In order to reduce the current and future morbidity and mortality associated with chronic HBV or HCV infection, the timely detection of chronically infected persons, with follow-up and case management, is crucial. However, the current screening strategies in Europe and Switzerland have to be considered as inadequate to detect the majority of chronically infected persons. Hence, we emphasise the importance of an alternative approach: the healthcare provider initiated identification of HBV or HCV infection in defined risk groups. This entails determining whether a person is not only at risk of being chronically infected, but also at risk of becoming infected with HBV or HCV and, if necessary, testing for HBV or HCV infection.

References

  1. Heymann DL, editor. Control of communicable diseases manual. 19th ed. American Public Health Association; 2008. Viral hepatitis B; p.284–93.
  2. Heymann DL, editor. Control of communicable diseases manual. 19th ed. American Public Health Association; 2008. Viral hepatitis C; p.293–95.
  3. Colvin HM, Mitchell AE, editors; Committee on the prevention and control of viral hepatitis infections; Institute of Medicine. Hepatitis and Liver Cancer: A National Strategy for Prevention and Control of Hepatitis B and C. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press; 2010. Available from: http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12793.html.
  4. Lavanchy D. Chronic viral hepatitis as a public health issue in the world. Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol. 2008;22(6):991–1008.
  5. Gonzalez SA, Keeffe EB. Chronic viral hepatitis: epidemiology, molecular biology, and antiviral therapy. Front Biosci. 2011;16:225–50.
  6. Sulkowski MS. Viral hepatitis and HIV coinfection. J Hepatol. 2008;48(2):353–67.
  7. World Health Organization. Prevention & Control of Viral Hepatitis: Framework for Global Action. World Health Organization 2012. Available from: http://www.who.int/csr/disease/hepatitis/GHP_framework.pdf.
  8. Veldhuijzen IK, Toy M, Hahné SJ, De Wit GA, Schalm SW, de Man RA et al. Screening and early treatment of migrants for chronic hepatitis b virus infection is cost-effective. Gastroenterology. 2010;(2):522–30.
  9. European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Hepatitis B and C in the EU neighbourhood: prevalence, burden of disease and screening policies. Stockholm: ECDC; 2010. Available from: http://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications/Publications/TER_100914_Hep_B_C%20_EU_neighbourhood.pdf http://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications/Publications/TER_100914_Hep_B_C _EU_neighbourhood.pdf.
  10. Robert Koch Institut. Ratgeber für Ärzte: Hepatitis B. Stand vom 01.08.2004 [cited 2011 Oct 29]. Available from: http://www.rki.de/DE/Content/Infekt/EpidBull/Merkblaetter/Ratgeber_HepatitisB.html?nn=2374512. German.
  11. Bundesamt für Gesundheit, Referenzzentren für blutübertragbare Infektionen im Gesundheitsbereich. Prävention blutübertragbarer Krankheiten auf Patienten: Empfehlungen für Personal im Gesundheitswesen mit Hepatitis B-, Hepatitis C- oder HIV-Infektion. Richtlinien und Empfehlungen. Bern: Bundesamt für Gesundheit, 2011. German.
  12. Lavanchy D. Hepatitis B virus epidemiology, disease burden, treatment, and current and emerging prevention and control measures. J Viral Hepat. 2004;11(2):97–107.
  13. Heininger U, Vaudaux B, Nidecker M, Pfister RE, Posfay-Barbe KM, Bachofner M et al. Evaluation of the compliance with recommended procedures in newborns exposed to HBsAg-positive mothers: a multicenter collaborative study. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2010;29(3):248–50.
  14. Ambühl PM, Binswanger U, Renner EL. Epidemiologie der chronischen Hepatitis B und C bei Dialysepatienten in der Schweiz. Schweiz Med Wochenschr. 2000;130:341–8. German.
  15. Steffen T, Blättler R, Gutzwiller F, Zwahlen M. HIV and hepatitis virus infections among injecting drug users in a medically controlled heroin prescription programme. Eur J Public Health. 2001;11(4):425–30.
  16. Nelson PK, Mathers BM, Cowie B, Hagan H, Des Jarlais D, Horyniak D et al. Global epidemiology of hepatitis B and hepatitis C in people who inject drugs: results of systematic reviews. Lancet. 2011;378(9791):571–83.
  17. Dienstag JL. Hepatitis B virus infection. N Engl J Med. 2008;359(14):1486–500.
  18. Gottwein JM, Scheel TK, Jensen TB, Lademann JB, Prentoe JC, Knudsen ML et al. Development and characterization of hepatitis C virus genotype 1-7 cell culture systems: role of CD81 and scavenger receptor class B type I and effect of antiviral drugs. Hepatology. 2009.
  19. Robert Koch Institut. Ratgeber für Ärzte: Hepatitis C. Stand vom 01.04.2004 [cited 2011 Oct 29]. Available from: http://www.rki.de/DE/Content/Infekt/EpidBull/Merkblaetter/Ratgeber_HepatitisC.html?nn=2374512. German.
  20. Ciesek S, Friesland M, Steinmann J, Becker B, Wedemeyer H, Manns MP et al. How stable is the hepatitis C virus (HCV)? Environmental stability of HCV and its susceptibility to chemical biocides. J Infect Dis. 2010;201(12):1859–66.
  21. Tohme RA, Holmberg SD. Is sexual contact a major mode of hepatitis C virus transmission? Hepatology. 2010;52(4):1497–505.
  22. Wandeler G, Gsponer T, Bregenzer A, Günthard HF, Clerc O, Calmy A et al. Hepatitis C Virus Infections in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study: A Rapidly Evolving Epidemic. Clin Infect Dis. 2012 Sep 12. [Epub ahead of print]
  23. Cornberg M, Razavi HA, Alberti A, Bernasconi E, Buti M, Cooper C et al. A systematic review of hepatitis C virus epidemiology in Europe, Canada and Israel. Liver Int. 2011;31(Suppl 2):30–60.
  24. Sagmeister M, Renner EL, Mullhaupt B, Wong JB. Simulation of hepatitis C based on a mandatory reporting system. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2002;14(1):25–34.
  25. Dubois-Arber F, Balthasar H, Huissoud T, Zobel F, Arnaud S, Samitca S et al. Trends in drug consumption and risk of transmission of HIV and hepatitis C virus among injecting drug users in Switzerland, 1993–2006. Euro Surveill. 2008;13(21). pii: 18881.
  26. Prasad LR, Masserey Spicher V, Kammerlander R, Zwahlen M. Hepatitis C in a sample of pregnant women in Switzerland: seroprevalence and socio-demographic factors. Swiss Med Wkly. 2007;137(1-2):27–32.
  27. Lavanchy D. The global burden of hepatitis C. Liver Int. 2009;29(Suppl 1):74–81.
  28. Lavanchy D. Evolving epidemiology of hepatitis C virus. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2011;17(2):107–15.
  29. Ly KN, Xing J, Klevens RM, Jiles RB, Ward JW, Holmberg SD. The increasing burden of mortality from viral hepatitis in the United States between 1999 and 2007. Ann Intern Med. 2012;156(4):271–8.
  30. Thompson A, Patel K, Tillman H, McHutchison JG. Directly acting antivirals for the treatment of patients with hepatitis C infection: a clinical development update addressing key future challenges. J Hepatol. 2009;50(1):184–94.
  31. Jacobson IM, McHutchison JG, Dusheiko G, Di Bisceglie AM, Reddy KR, Bzowej NH et al. Telaprevir for previously untreated chronic hepatitis C virus infection. N Engl J Med. 2011;364(25):2405–16.
  32. Poordad F, McCone J Jr, Bacon BR, Bruno S, Manns MP, Sulkowski MS et al. Boceprevir for untreated chronic HCV genotype 1 infection. N Engl J Med. 2011;364(13):1195–206.
  33. European Association for the Study of the Liver. EASL Clinical Practice Guidelines: management of hepatitis C virus infection. J Hepatol. 2011;55(2):245–64.
  34. Garrone P, Fluckiger AC, Mangeot PE, Gauthier E, Dupeyrot-Lacas P, Mancip J et al. A prime-boost strategy using virus-like particles pseudotyped for HCV proteins triggers broadly neutralizing antibodies in macaques. Sci Transl Med. 2011;3(94):94ra71.
  35. Piorkowsky NY. Europe’s hepatitis challenge: defusing the “viral time bomb”. J Hepatol. 2009;51(6):1068–73.
  36. World Health Organization. State of the art of new vaccine research and development. 2006. Geneva; Switzerland. Available from: http://whqlibdoc.who.int/hq/2006/WHO_IVB_06.01_eng.pdf.
  37. British Association for the Study of the Liver, British Society of Gastroenterology (Liver Section). A time to act: improving liver health and outcomes in liver disease. The national plan for liver services U.K 2009. Available from: http://www.bsg.org.uk/attachments/1004_National%20Liver%20Plan%202009.pdf http://www.bsg.org.uk/attachments/1004_National Liver Plan 2009.pdf.
  38. Health Protection Agency. Hepatitis C in the UK; 2011. London, July 2011. Available from: http://www.hpa.org.uk/webc/HPAwebFile/HPAweb_C/1309969906418.
  39. Health Protection Agency. Hepatitis C in the UK; 2007. London, December 2007. Available from: http://www.hpa.org.uk/webc/HPAwebFile/HPAweb_C/1204100441645.
  40. Bundesamt für Gesundheit. Nationales Programm: HIV und andere sexuell übertragbare Infektionen (NPHS), 2011–2017. Dezember 2010. Available from: http://www.bag.admin.ch/hiv_aids/05464/05465/index.html?lang=de. German.
  41. Andermann A. Screening for persons with underlying chronic disease. In: VHPB (Viral Hepatitis Prevention Board) meeting on identification and management of persons with chronic viral hepatitis in Europe; 2010 March 18–19; Budapest, Hungary: p. 2–5.
  42. European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies. Policy brief: Screening in Europe. Geneva: WHO; 2006. Available from: http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/108961/E88698.pdf.
  43. The Writing Committee on behalf of the Consensus Panel. Expert Consensus Conference: The screening for hepatitis C virus infection in adults in Italy, May 5–6, 2005. Dig Liver Dis. 2006;38(7):445–51.
  44. Goldberg D, Roudot-Thoraval F. In: VHPB (Viral Hepatitis Prevention Board) meeting on identification and management of persons with chronic viral hepatitis in Europe; 2010 March 18-19; Budapest, Hungary: p.1.
  45. Sroczynski G, Esteban E, Conrads-Frank A, Schwarzer R, Mühlberger N, Wright D et al. Long-term effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of screening for hepatitis C virus infection. Eur J Public Health. 2009;19(3):245–53.
  46. Thompson Coon J, Castelnuovo E, Pitt M, Cramp M, Siebert U, Stein K. Case finding for hepatitis C in primary care: a cost utility analysis. Fam Pract. 2006;23(4):393–406.
  47. Castelnuovo E, Thompson-Coon J, Pitt M, Cramp M, Siebert U, Price A et al. The cost-effectiveness of testing for hepatitis C in former injecting drug users. Health Technol Assess. 2006;10(32):iii-iv, ix-xii, 1–93.
  48. Stein K, Dalziel K, Walker A, Jenkins B, Round A, Royle P. Screening for Hepatitis C in injecting drug users: a cost utility analysis. J Public Health. 2004;26(1):61–71.
  49. Sutton AJ, Edmunds WJ, Sweeting MJ, Gill ON. The cost-effectiveness of screening and treatment for hepatitis C in prisons in England and Wales: a cost-utility analysis. J Viral Hepat. 2008;(11):797–808.
  50. Bundesamt für Gesundheit, Eidgenössische Kommission für Impffragen, Arbeitsgruppe «Prävention der Mutter-Kind-Übertragung von Hepatitis B». Empfehlungen zur Prävention der Mutter-Kind-Übertragung von Hepatitis-B. Ergänzung zu den Richtlinien und Empfehlungen Nr. 2 (ehemals Supplementum II). Bern: Bundesamt für Gesundheit, 2007. German.
  51. Niederhauser C. 11 Jahre nationales Referenzzentrum für Infektionen durch Blut und Blutprodukte. Bull BAG. 2010;10:336–44.
  52. Rein DB, Smith BD, Wittenborn JS, Lesesne SB, Wagner LD, Roblin DW et al. The cost-effectiveness of birth-cohort screening for hepatitis C antibody in U.S. primary care settings. Ann Intern Med. 2012;156(4):263–70.
  53. Murphy EL. The increasing burden of mortality from viral hepatitis in the United States. Ann Intern Med. 2012;157(2):149–50.
  54. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Recommendations for the identification of chronic hepatitis C virus infection among persons born during 1945–1965. MMWR 2012;61(No.RR-4). Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/rr/rr6104.pdf.
  55. European Liver Patients Association, European Association for the study of the Liver. Recommendations for the promotion of case-finding for viral hepatitis B and C, including targeted screening measures for risk groups, February 2009. Available from: http://www.elpa-info.org/tl_files/elpa_downloads/recommendations-consolidated-version-final.pdf http://www.elpa-info.org/tl_files/elpa_downloads/recommendations-consolidated-version-final.pd.
  56. Ministère de la santé et des sports. Direction générale de la santé. Plan national de lutte contre les Hépatites B et C, 2009-2012. 2010, Paris. Available from: http://www.sante.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/Plan_national_Hepatites.pdf. French.
  57. Health Service Executive. HSE National Social Inclusion. National Hepatitis C Strategy 2011–2014. 2012, Dublin. Available from: http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/Publications/HealthProtection/HepCstrategy.pdf.
  58. Bundesamt für Gesundheit. Hepatitis C in der Schweiz: Für eine individuelle Information und Beratung. Bull BAG. 2001;46:877–81. German.
  59. Bundesamt für Gesundheit, Schweizerische Kommission für Impffragen, Schweizerische Expertengruppe für virale Hepatitis. Empfehlungen zur Hepatitis-B-Impfung. Richtlinien und Empfehlungen (ehemals Supplementum II). Bern: Bundesamt für Gesundheit, 1997. German.

Most read articles by the same author(s)

1 2 3 > >>