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Fri, July 8, 2022 | 01:47
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Increase in hepatitis C patients increase due to alleged syringe re-use
원주 C형간염 감염자 총 217명…95명 "치료 필요해"
Posted : 2016-02-26 17:12
Updated : 2016-02-26 21:53
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By Lee Kyung-min

The number of patients infected with hepatitis C after receiving intravenous injections at the Hanyang Orthopedics Clinic in Wonju, Gangwon Province has doubled in just ten days, health authorities said Friday.

According to the Wonju Community Health Center, Friday, of 1,888 patients tested, 217 were confirmed to have the disease, up 102 from 115 on Feb. 10.

They were among the 15,433 patients suspected of getting the infection after receiving injections, including some receiving platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy that relieves pain in the back, neck and other parts of the body. The doctor is suspected of re-using disposable syringes, the center said.

Of the 217, only 199 received PRP there, but the remaining 18 did not, indicating the cause or means of infection is still uncertain, the center added.

Police in Wonju seized the PRP equipment that is suspected of having been used by the clinic, as part of their investigation into medical malpractice.

Nurses and staffers involved in PRP treatment, who have worked at the clinic since 2006, were questioned, the center added.

Police said the number of people who sought PRP treatment there soared up to April last year, after patients who had received it recommended the clinic.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety rejected the use of PRP therapy due to safety and efficacy concerns in 2012.

Meanwhile, in a separate report by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), of 1,672 patients who received intravenous injections at Dana Clinic in Yangcheon, southwest Seoul, 97 people had contracted hepatitis C as of Feb. 1.

After additional tests some were also found to be infected with hepatitis B, the KCDC added.

Of 97 patients, 51 were infected with hepatitis C 1a, which tends to have a higher relapse rate than other variants of the disease, and is expensive to treat.

The KCDC added that the 230 people who remain untested are strongly advised to go to the nearest hospital immediately for a test.

Pending at the National Assembly is a revision to the Medical Practice Law that will allow for the revoking of the license of doctors, or impose a five-year prison term and 20 million won fine, if they are found responsible for irrevocable damage to patients after reusing disposable medical equipment.


원주 C형간염 감염자 총 217명…95명 "치료 필요해"

충북 제천서도 감염 확인…'발생 규모·경로 파악 중'

C형간염 감염자가 집단 발생한 강원도 원주의 한양정형외과의원에서 감염자가 늘고 있다. 현재 치료가 필요한 감염자는 95명에 이른다.

26일 질병관리본부에 따르면 24일까지 C형간염 항체 검사를 완료한 1천545명 중 양성 판정을 받은 감염자는 217명으로, 지난 12일 발표(115명)보다 102명 늘었다.

과거에 C형간염에 걸린 적이 있거나 현재 감염 중인 사람 모두를 포함한 수치다.

이 가운데 현재 치료가 필요한 'RNA(리보핵산) 양성'은 총 95명이다. 나머지 122명은 감염된 흔적이 남아있는 것으로 확인됐다고 질병관리본부는 설명했다.

이에 앞서 방역당국은 이 병원을 다녀간 환자 115명이 C형간염 유전자 검사 결과 양성이며 그 중 101명이 RNA 양성이라고 밝혔으나 그 숫자는 다소 줄어든 것으로 나타났다.

추가 조사 과정에서 감염된 사람 중 상당수가 의료기관에서 치료를 받는 등 증상이 완화돼 RNA가 확인되지 않은 점이 일부 작용한 때문으로 보인다. 

방역당국은 2006년 이후 원주 한양정형외과의원에서 자가혈 주사시술(PRP) 및 일반 주사 등을 시술받은 환자 1만5천443명을 대상으로 혈액 매개 감염병을 확인하고 있다.

지금까지 전체 조사 대상자의 10.0%(1천545명)만 검사를 완료했다. C형간염 외에도 B형간염 표면항원 양성으로 확인된 감염자도 18명으로 확인됐다.

감염자는 PRP 시술을 받은 이들에게서 더 많이 나타났다.

PRP를 시술받은 검사자 721명 중 199명이 C형간염 항체 양성 반응을 보였다. 

PRP시술을 받지 않은 그룹 824명 중 18명만 양성 반응이 나타난 것과 대비된다.

PRP는 환자의 혈액을 채취해 원심분리하고서 추출한 혈소판을 환자에게 재주사하는 방식이다.

이에 따라 방역당국은 PRP시술을 받은 환자를 우선으로 조사해나갈 계획이다.

방역당국은 '주사기 재사용' 문제가 불거졌던 충북 제천의 양의원에서 근육주사를 받은 환자 3천996명에 대한 혈액 매개 감염병 여부도 조사하고 있다.

검사 결과, 1명이 C형간염에 걸린 흔적이 남아있어 유전자 검사를 진행 중이다. 

B형간염 항원에 양성 반응을 보인 감염자도 11명으로 확인됐다.

질병관리본부와 원주시보건소, 제천시보건소는 감염 발생 규모 및 경로를 파악하기 위해 현재 관련자를 면담하고 사례를 조사·분석하고 있다.

질병관리본부는 주사기 등 일회용 의료기기를 재사용하는 것으로 의심되는 의료기관에 대한 공익신고를 다음 달 31일까지 받고 즉시 현장 조사에 나설 방침이다. (연합뉴스) 
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