الفهرس 
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Abstract
Summary
HCV infection still remains a major health problem that can cause substantial liver related morbidity and mortality in patients with ESRD.
The global prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection estimated to be around 1.6 - 3% worldwide, Egypt has the largest epidemic of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the world with 10 - 13% of the population infected with HCV.
The prevalence of anti-HCV positivity among dialysis patients varies in different countries from (3%-75% worldwide), unfortunately Egypt also is considered one of the countries with the highest prevalence.
This work is a part of project aiming to survey about HCV among HD patients, assessing its prevalence, seroconversion and study risk factors associated with HCV seroconversion among hemodialysis patients in Egypt. This project is modulated by the nephrology department, Ain Shams University.
This study was conducted upon 422 ESRD patients on regular HD sessions attending 7 different HD units in Port-Said governorate, districts included in this study were : Port-Fouad City, El-Shark District, El-Arab District, El-Manakh District, El-Zohour District, El-Dawahy District, El-Ganoub District.
All patients were evaluated using a questionnaire form for assessment of risk factors claimed to be responsible for HCV seroconversion among HD patients such as; age, gender, duration of hemodialysis, previous blood transfusion, previous surgery, isolation procedures in the centers, infection control measures, dialysis in other centers (switching dialysis centers), vascular access used, history of shistozomiasis, history of HBsAg, history of HCV, seroconversion, family history of HCV, cause of chronic kidney disease.
Among a total number of 422 patients attending 7 HD units, 254 (60.2%%) of them were males, with168 (39.8%) females.
The prevalence of HCV Ab at the start of dialysis was (18.95%), & the prevalence of HCV Ab by the time of data collection was (26.5%) with a rate of seroconversion of (7.58%), after a mean duration of HD since starting dialysis of 3.2334 (±3.24052) years.
The present study revealed that there was no significant relationship between HCV seroconversion in dialysis patients and age.
Also family history of HCV, previous surgery, duration of dialysis and HBV infection were not significant risk factors for HCV seroconversion.
On the other hand, Gender was significant in univariate analysis and not significant in multivariable analysis.
The study revealed statistically significant relationship between HCV seroconversion in the HD patients and the following risk factors ( switching dialysis centers, isolation procedure, and infection control measures).
Finally, this study showed that successful prevention and control of HCV transmission in HD units in Port-Said,Egypt was multifactorial including un-modifiable factors (like duration of dialysis, age), and modifiable factors including implementation of strict infection control guidelines with standard precautions.