Challenge of hepatitis C in Egypt and hepatitis B in Mauritania

Abstract

Egypt has one of the highest prevalence rates of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the world, mostly with genotype 4 that is highly associated with severe fibrosis. As a consequence, hepatocellular carcinoma has become the leading cause of cancer in this country. Mauritania is a highly endemic area for hepatitis B virus (HBV). HBV and HCV could both be iatrogenically transmitted through infected blood products, infected needles, and medical equipment improperly sterilized. Adequate and efficient healthcare and public health measures with good surveillance programs, access for screening, prevention strategies, and successful treatment are needed to halt the spread of these diseases. Herein, we have reviewed the epidemiology, modes of transmission, predisposing factors, and novel treatment modalities of these viruses. We have proposed practices and interventions to decrease the risk of transmission of HCV and HBV in the affected countries, including strict adherence to standard precautions in the healthcare setting, rigorous education and training of patients and healthcare providers, universal screening of blood donors, use of safety-engineered devices, proper sterilization of medical equipment, hepatitis B vaccination, as well as effective direct-acting antiviral agents for the treatment of HCV.

Current Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practice of Medical Students Regarding the Risk of Hepatitis B Virus Infection and Control Measures at Qassim University

“…Exposure to infected blood as a consequence of injury means that HCWs (including medical students) are at great risk of infections from the human immunodeficiency virus, HBV, and hepatitis C [8], [9], [10], [11]. Studies showed that HBV demonstrate huge social and economic burden on the society and the authority, with high prevalence rates in some countries around the world, which explain the urgent need to develop more sophisticated infection control procedures training [12], with implementing efficient public health measures and infection control practices to help control the issue [13], moreover, introducing successful public health policies and guidelines will lead to a great decrease and improvement of the HBV status in any community [14].…”

Epidemiology of Liver Cancer in Africa: Current and Future Trends

“…50,51 Viral factors such as the specific HCVgenotypes and subgenotypes are also important. 52 There has been a growing concern and controversy about an apparent unexpected increase in the number of HCC cases The prevalence of hepatitis B as a risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in 9 African countries: Egypt, 39 Uganda, 40 Cameroon, 41 Ghana, 42 Nigeria, 43 Kenya, 44 South Africa, 45 and Malawi. 46 developing following direct acting antiviral (DAA) therapy for HCV, as well as higher than expected rates of recurrence following surgical resection in patients receiving DAA treatment.…”

Hepatocellular Carcinoma Incidence in Hepatitis C Patients Treated With Direct-Acting Antivirals and Its Relationship to Hepatic Fibrosis Stage

“…It was responsible for 25% of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) & 27% of liver cirrhosis cases (Page et al, 2021). Egypt has one of the world's highest rates of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection (Raad et al, 2018). Genotype 4 is the commonest of the six major HCV genotypes, with 4a as the dominant subtype (Omran et al, 2018).…”