因針扎事件而得到急性C型肝炎,對於醫療工作者(醫師、護理人員、技術人員,甚至是清潔人員)的健康而言都是一大威脅。第一個理由是:醫院中住院病患的C型肝炎的盛行率較一般人口為高;第二個理由是:一但得到急性C型肝炎,半數以上將會進展到慢性C型肝炎的階段,日後再進展到肝硬化及肝癌的可能性,較無C型肝炎感染者來得高。因此,對於因針扎事件而得到的急性C型肝炎,施予藥物治療,若能成功達到抑制病毒(Sustained Viral Response, SVR)後,將會阻斷上述進展到肝硬化及肝癌的可能。 根據國外文獻,因為針扎事件而受傳染得到急性C型肝炎的比例約為0.5%。但台灣屬C型肝炎中高盛行率的地區,因針扎事件而傳染的急性C型肝炎仍應受到重視。此外,由於C型肝炎並無疫苗注射可提供預防,而且對於急性C型肝炎的治療,達SVR的比例可高達90%,因此早期投予治療,對於因受針扎傳染得到急性C型肝炎的醫護人員中,無法自行廓清病毒者來說,似乎具有臨床意義。 目前,對於因針扎得到急性C型肝炎的治療建議,各專業醫學組織尚未達到一致的共識。本成本效果分析的研究乃是用來比較在台灣地區,在針扎事件發生後,因而得到急性C型肝炎的追踪與治療,對國內現行策略與美國CDC的替代建議策略,以職業災害的補償者-雇主(醫院)和公共衛生政策的制訂者-政府為觀點,做出兩者間成本效果分析的比較。 經成本效果與成本效益分析後的結果得知,美國CDC的替代建議,在因針扎事件感染急性C型肝炎的感染率為0.5%的情況下,比目前台灣官方所建議的方案,更具成本效益。每年將多避免3.6名因針扎事作而感染成慢性C型肝炎的個案。而每避免一個CHC個案需增加220,136元的成本。考慮慢性C型肝炎可能進展至肝硬化、肝癌,乃至於死亡後,美國CDC的替代建議不但可以延長15.8 QALYs,所需的總成本還比目前台灣官方的建議還低22萬元。把上述兩個效益一起考慮後,在美國CDC替代建議下,每增加一元在針扎事件後急性C型肝炎的治療上,在未來可以帶來1.26元的效益。 吾人建議,台灣衛生署疾病管制局與主管勞工安全衛生的勞工委員會,應速將「醫療保建服務業針扎危害管理指引」中的急性C型肝炎追蹤建議,依美國CDC的替代建議內容做修改。以期提供醫療人員更完整的職業安全衛生保障。
Background Transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) via needle stick injury from patients to health-care workers has been well documented. Different follow-up programs for this occupational exposure have been available in different countries. In this study, using a cost-effectiveness analysis, we compared the existing follow-up strategies recommended in Taiwan (wait-and-see) and the USA (early detection). Methods A decision tree simulated these two strategies for 1263 healthcare workers (HCWs) exposed to HCV each year in Taiwan, from exposure to death. Results of a cost-effectiveness analysis concerning the treatment of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) in Taiwan were used to estimate associated parameters once spontaneous resolution did not develop after six months. Results For a HCV transmission risk of 0.5% after exposure, the USA strategy could avert 3.6 CHC cases by extra cost NTD 220,136 per case. Taking together all the costs in treating CHC, the US strategy was dominant with an incremental QALYs 15.8 and cheaper cost. In a cost-benefit analysis, the US strategy had a positive net benefit and carried a benefit-cost ratio 1.26. Conclusion The US strategy based on early HCV-RNA testing could provide early diagnosis and treatment of acute occupational hepatitis C. This strategy also leads to lower risk of progression to CHC and is dominantly cost-effective.