Use of genome sequencing to identify hepatitis C virus transmission in a renal healthcare setting

SummaryBackgroundHepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major health burden worldwide. A patient with no history of HCV infection while on a renal unit was found to seroconvert to HCV.AimTo report the use of sequencing to postulate how transmission of HCV occurred in a healthcare setting, and how this guided our outbreak investigation.FindingsBased on infection control inspections the transmission event was surmised to be due to ward environmental contamination with blood and subsequent inoculation from intravenous interventions on the patient acquiring HCV. We discuss the interventions put in place in response to the outbreak investigation findings.ConclusionSequencing of healthcare-acquired HCV infections should be undertaken as routine practice in outbreak investigations.