Comprehensive Diagnosis of Viral Hepatitis in Spain: Bases for Implementation

In 2022, scientific societies agreed on a document with recommendations for a comprehensive diagnosis of viral hepatitis (B, C, and D). The aim was to evaluate the situation in Spain regarding the comprehensive diagnosis of viral hepatitis in a single blood draw before it is recommended. A panel of...

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Main Authors: Joaquin Cabezas, Antonio Aguilera, Federico García, Raquel Domínguez-Hernández, Araceli Casado-Gómez, Nataly Espinoza-Cámac, Miguel Ángel Casado, Javier Crespo
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Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Viruses
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/5/667
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author Joaquin Cabezas
Antonio Aguilera
Federico García
Raquel Domínguez-Hernández
Araceli Casado-Gómez
Nataly Espinoza-Cámac
Miguel Ángel Casado
Javier Crespo
author_facet Joaquin Cabezas
Antonio Aguilera
Federico García
Raquel Domínguez-Hernández
Araceli Casado-Gómez
Nataly Espinoza-Cámac
Miguel Ángel Casado
Javier Crespo
author_sort Joaquin Cabezas
collection DOAJ
description In 2022, scientific societies agreed on a document with recommendations for a comprehensive diagnosis of viral hepatitis (B, C, and D). The aim was to evaluate the situation in Spain regarding the comprehensive diagnosis of viral hepatitis in a single blood draw before it is recommended. A panel of experts prepared a structured survey directed at hospitals (public or private with teaching accreditation) with ≥200 beds (sent 20 October 2022, closed 1 December 2022). The response rate was 61% (79/129; 52 hospitals with >500 beds). Among the participating hospitals, all could perform tests for HBsAg, anti-HCV, and HIV serology; 94% could perform PCR testing for HCV, 63% could test for anti-HDV, and 28% could test for HDV-RNA (67% [53/79] outsourced this testing). Point-of-care (POC) testing availability was low (24%), with 84% of these tests being supervised by the reference microbiological laboratory and the results being registered in the patients’ medical history. Ninety percent of the centers carried out the diagnosis in a single step (99% HCV, 70% HBV, 48% HDV, and 44% HBV-HDV). In addition, 77% used some communication strategy when an active infection was encountered (100% HCV, 49% HBV, and 31% HDV). Only 20% had an automated system for scheduling a specialist physician appointment. Most hospitals had the means for a comprehensive diagnosis of viral hepatitis in a single sample, but <50% could test for HBV/HDV. Alerts for continuity of care were available for HCV, but not HBV or HDV. POC device implementation is important for decentralized testing.
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spelling doaj-art-e690072009f8437ca106976b6afedc202025-08-20T03:12:11ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152025-05-0117566710.3390/v17050667Comprehensive Diagnosis of Viral Hepatitis in Spain: Bases for ImplementationJoaquin Cabezas0Antonio Aguilera1Federico García2Raquel Domínguez-Hernández3Araceli Casado-Gómez4Nataly Espinoza-Cámac5Miguel Ángel Casado6Javier Crespo7Gastroenterology and Hepatology Service, Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, 39008 Santander, SpainMicrobiology Service and Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago (IDIS), University Clinical Hospital of Santiago de Compostela, 15706 A Coruña, SpainMicrobiology Service, San Cecilio Clinical University Hospital, 18007 Granada, SpainPharmacoeconomics & Outcomes Research Iberia (PORIB), 28224 Madrid, SpainPharmacoeconomics & Outcomes Research Iberia (PORIB), 28224 Madrid, SpainPharmacoeconomics & Outcomes Research Iberia (PORIB), 28224 Madrid, SpainPharmacoeconomics & Outcomes Research Iberia (PORIB), 28224 Madrid, SpainGastroenterology and Hepatology Service, Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, 39008 Santander, SpainIn 2022, scientific societies agreed on a document with recommendations for a comprehensive diagnosis of viral hepatitis (B, C, and D). The aim was to evaluate the situation in Spain regarding the comprehensive diagnosis of viral hepatitis in a single blood draw before it is recommended. A panel of experts prepared a structured survey directed at hospitals (public or private with teaching accreditation) with ≥200 beds (sent 20 October 2022, closed 1 December 2022). The response rate was 61% (79/129; 52 hospitals with >500 beds). Among the participating hospitals, all could perform tests for HBsAg, anti-HCV, and HIV serology; 94% could perform PCR testing for HCV, 63% could test for anti-HDV, and 28% could test for HDV-RNA (67% [53/79] outsourced this testing). Point-of-care (POC) testing availability was low (24%), with 84% of these tests being supervised by the reference microbiological laboratory and the results being registered in the patients’ medical history. Ninety percent of the centers carried out the diagnosis in a single step (99% HCV, 70% HBV, 48% HDV, and 44% HBV-HDV). In addition, 77% used some communication strategy when an active infection was encountered (100% HCV, 49% HBV, and 31% HDV). Only 20% had an automated system for scheduling a specialist physician appointment. Most hospitals had the means for a comprehensive diagnosis of viral hepatitis in a single sample, but <50% could test for HBV/HDV. Alerts for continuity of care were available for HCV, but not HBV or HDV. POC device implementation is important for decentralized testing.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/5/667hepatitis Bhepatitis Chepatitis Dintegrated diagnosispoint-of-care testing
spellingShingle Joaquin Cabezas
Antonio Aguilera
Federico García
Raquel Domínguez-Hernández
Araceli Casado-Gómez
Nataly Espinoza-Cámac
Miguel Ángel Casado
Javier Crespo
Comprehensive Diagnosis of Viral Hepatitis in Spain: Bases for Implementation
Viruses
hepatitis B
hepatitis C
hepatitis D
integrated diagnosis
point-of-care testing
title Comprehensive Diagnosis of Viral Hepatitis in Spain: Bases for Implementation
title_full Comprehensive Diagnosis of Viral Hepatitis in Spain: Bases for Implementation
title_fullStr Comprehensive Diagnosis of Viral Hepatitis in Spain: Bases for Implementation
title_full_unstemmed Comprehensive Diagnosis of Viral Hepatitis in Spain: Bases for Implementation
title_short Comprehensive Diagnosis of Viral Hepatitis in Spain: Bases for Implementation
title_sort comprehensive diagnosis of viral hepatitis in spain bases for implementation
topic hepatitis B
hepatitis C
hepatitis D
integrated diagnosis
point-of-care testing
url https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/5/667
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