HSE looks into hepatitis B incidence in SE

The Health Service Executive (HSE) is investigating the discovery of hepatitis B in a number of patients in the southeast region. Infection was discovered in some patients who attended Waterford Regional Hospital and Wexford General Hospital during the period January 2005 to February 2006.

The public health department of the HSE South, which covers Carlow, Kilkenny, South Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford, has launched an investigation.

The discovery was made by the microbiology department in Waterford Regional Hospital and the public health department. The department established an expert group to advise the South East Hospital Network Incident Team and "patients are aware of their diagnosis", according to a HSE South spokeswoman. "The expert group, including an external, national expert on virology and microbiology, has reviewed the cases."

An investigation team is said to be "currently working to best practice and national guidelines in relation to following all appropriate contacts".

The spokeswoman added: "It has recommended that a look-back be carried out to establish if any other in-patient that had a procedure and was in the vicinity of a hepatitis B patient could have been at risk of infection." Meanwhile, the team is finalising arrangements for the review to take place early next week. The number of former patients to be checked is fewer than 1,000.

"The South East Hospital Group is erring on the side of caution by undertaking this look-back as the risk of contracting hepatitis B is very low," she said.

Each patient who was at risk of contact with the infection would be contacted and asked to attend their GP for a blood test. However, the HSE South has said the review would not affect staff working in the hospitals as they had not undergone procedures.

All frontline hospital staff had been offered vaccination against hepatitis B through the occupational health department for the past 10 years, it emerged.

"The vast majority of adults recover fully from acute hepatitis B, normally within six months, and remain immune for life from another hepatitis B infection," added the spokeswoman.