1. ¹Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
2. ²St. Hedwig Childrens Hospital, Regensburg, Germany

Correspondence: Dr. Antje Knöll, Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Regensburg, F-J-Strau-Allee 11, 93053 Regensburg, Germany. E-mail: antje.knoell@klinik.uni-regensburg.de

Received 26 October 2000.

Abstract

Hospital-related hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections continue to occur even after the introduction of blood donor screening. We report an outbreak of HCV in nine patients of a pediatric oncology ward in 1996/1997. Sequencing of the hypervariable genomic region 1 (HVR1) of the E2/NS1 region showed near identity between HCV isolates from these patients as evidence for infection with the same virus. Despite a detailed and careful investigation, the source of infection and the mode of virus transmission could not be established. Based on a review of the current literature about nosocomial HCV infection and HCV infection in children, hypotheses for possible means of transmission in this outbreak are discussed.