Monday, November 5, 2018

Listen-Pregnancy guidelines: Hepatitis C testing, preferably at the start of prenatal care.

Pregnancy guidelines around vitamin D, hepatitis C testing updated
Dr. Norman Swan, the host of Health Report, along with his guest Professor Jeremy Oats, discuss the new guidelines for hepatitis C testing for pregnant women, preferably at the start of prenatal care.

Program
Listen here....
Monday 5 November 2018 5:52PM (view full episode)
Source: Health Report

Further Information
Australia:
Med J Aust 2018; 209 (9): 409-412. || doi: 10.5694/mja18.00286
Published online: 5 November 2018
Updated clinical practice guidelines on pregnancy care

HCV Guidelines - Updated to include universal screening for pregnant women
Last update: May 24, 2018
The guidelines were developed by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

In The Media
Infectious Disease Advisor
Universal vs Risk-Based Screening in Pregnancy: An Expert Weighs In 
Tori Rodriguez, MA, LPC 
November 06, 2018
Infectious Disease Advisor interviewed Dr Espinosa for additional insights on the topic of universal HCV screening in pregnancy.

Infectious Disease Advisor: What are some of the issues and potential benefits pertaining to universal HCV screening for pregnant women?

Dr Espinosa: Several studies have shown that risk-based screening misses many cases of infection. Several reasons account for that — for example, the screening tools are not perfect, patients do not trust the provider or just do not want to admit risks factors, and many may just not want the risk factors to be permanently part of their medical record.

These factors are not unique to hepatitis C risk factors, as we have seen it happening with other infectious diseases such as HIV. It was not until universal screening for HIV was implemented for pregnant women that the rates of perinatal transmission dramatically decreased.

Universal screening in pregnant women will destigmatize hepatitis C and increase awareness. The United States is [in the midst of] an epidemic that should be controlled, and transmission will not decrease unless several actions are taken. We will not know the true burden of the disease if we do not increase screening. 

On This Blog
Monday, October 22, 2018
Hepatitis C Virus in Women of Childbearing Age, Pregnant Women, and Children

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