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Table INF-105. Notified cases of hepatitis C infection among injecting drug users in the EU countries, Croatia and Norway
Part (ii) Case definitions
| Country | Region | Notes | Comments | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reference: | ||||
| Czech Republic | NATIONAL | AC | Case definition: Hepatitis C - a symptomatic case that is laboratory confirmed - detection of HCV-specific antibodies, detection of HCV nucleic acid from clinical samples. Definition and Classification of Cases ECDC TESSy. AC ; UI ; LC ; HCV-RNA. | 16 ; 17 ; 21 ; 22 ; 29 ; 30 ; 33 |
| Denmark | NATIONAL | A | Case definition: Clinical symptoms + Laboratory confirmed hepatitis C (preferably HCV-RNA, but HCV-antibidies are accepted). A ; UI ; LC ; HCV-RNA. | 5 ; 6 ; 9 |
| Denmark | NATIONAL | C | Case definition: Laboratory confirmed hepatitis C present for more than 6 months or Laboratory confirmed hepatitis C + histology. C; UI ; LC ; HCV-RNA. No-UI in 2009 | 10 ; 11 ; 12 ; 13 |
| Germany | NATIONAL | AC | Case definition: Clinical Criteria: Any person with at least one of the following three criteria: Jaundice, Elevated serum aminotransferase levels, Abdominal pain. Laboratory Criteria: At least one of the following two criteria: Detection of hepatitis C virus nucleic acid in serum (e.g. PCR), Hepatitis C virus specific antibody response (e.g. ELISA) confirmed by a different antibody test (e.g. immunoblot). Reportable: newly laboratory confirmed hepatitis C, regardless whether acute or chronic. AC ; UI ; LC. No-UI in2009 | 32 ; 33 ; 34 ; 35 ; 36 ;37 |
| Estonia | NATIONAL | A ; (1) | EU case definition. Commentary to 1.2.14: Injecting Drug Users are distinguished since 2004. A ; UI ; LC; HCV-RNA. | 1 ; 6 ; 7 |
| Ireland | NATIONAL | AC | Case definition: Case definition: This is the first time that each case has being reported to the HPSC between 2004 and 2010, but a number of cases may have being diagnosed before 2004 and not reported to the HPSC. Each case reported has a confirmed diagnosis of hepatitis C using laboratory-based serology.A ; UI ; LC; HCV-RNA. | 15 |
| Italy | NATIONAL | A | Case definition: an acute illness compatible with hepatitis and serum alanine transferase levels greater than 10 times the normal value; anti-HCV positive; IgM anti-HAV negative; IgM anti-HBc negative. A ; UI ; LC. | n.a. |
| Latvia | NATIONAL | A | Case definition: ICD-10, B17.1 A ; LC ; HCV-RNA | 3 ; 8 ; 9; 13; 19 |
| Latvia | NATIONAL | C | Case definition: ICD-10, B18.2. C; UI; LC; HCV-RNA | 13; 19 |
| Lithuania | NATIONAL | A | Case definition: ICD-10, acute hepatitis C - B17.1 A ; LC ; HCV-RNA. | 4 ; 9 ; 15 |
| Lithuania | NATIONAL | C | Case definition: ICD-10, chronic hepatitis C - B18.2 C ; LC ; HCV-RNA. | 15 |
| Luxembourg | NATIONAL | AC | All notified hepatitis C cases, IDU cases not available. AC ; UI ; HCV-RNA. 2007-2009 NOTIFIED_CASES_TRANSMISSION_ROUTE_KNOWN not available.No_LC No-RNA. Self-reported data. | 1d ; 5 ; 9 ; 10 |
| Luxembourg | NATIONAL | A | Case definition: self-reported HCV cases A; UI | 11 |
| Hungary | NATIONAL | A | Case definition: An illness with discrete date of onset, and (2) jaundince or elevated serum aminotransferase levels greater than 2.5 times the upper limit of normal. Serologic criteria used: + anti-HCV positive. A ; UI ; LC. In 2009/2010 No-RNA | 1 ; 6 ; 11 ; 14 ; 22 ; 24 |
| Malta | NATIONAL | A | Case definition: Detection of HCV-specific antibodies. Detection of HCV nucleic acid from clinical samples. Symptomatic cases that are laboratory confirmed. A ; LC. | 4 ; 6 |
| Malta | NATIONAL | C | Case definition: Positive result for Hepatitis C without any clinical symptoms or signs C ; LC. | 4 ; 6 |
| Malta | NATIONAL | AC | Case definition: No case definition. AC; UI; LC; 2010 no HCV-RNA. | 8; 0 |
| Netherlands | NATIONAL | AC | Case definition: newly diagnosed HCV-infection (acute or chronic), confirmed by lab diagnosis. AC; LC. | 24 |
| Netherlands | NATIONAL | A | Case definition: Every new diagnosis of HCV infection must be notified, when suspecting a recent infection (last year). Such a suspicion of a recent infection can originate from:appearance of antibodies against HCV or increase in laboratory reactivity;having symptoms (like icterus or increased liver function disorder);exposure to relevant risks if present in recent period, including medical treatments. A ; LC; No-UI; No-RNA; | 24 ; 30 ; 32 ; 37; 38 |
| Poland | NATIONAL | A | Case definition: Cases with clinical picture compatible with viral hepatitis confirmed by presence of anti-HCV antibodies or genetic material, reported by clinician as acute case. A ; UI ; LC. In 2009/2010 No-RNA | 8 ; 15 ; 16 ; 17 ; 18 |
| Poland | NATIONAL | C | Case definition:Cases with clinical picture compatible with viral hepatitis confirmed by presence of anti-HCV antibodies or genetic material, reported by clinician as chronic case.C; UI; LC; No-RNA | 15 ; 16 ; 17 ; 18 |
| Slovenia | NATIONAL | A | Case definition: a suspected case which is laboratory confirmed (anti-HCV positive or HCV-RNA positive). A ; UI ; LC HCV-RNA. | 1 |
| Slovakia | NATIONAL | A | Case definition: Positive anti HCV, PCR A ; LC ; HCV-RNA. In 2009/2010 No-UI | 4 ; 5 ; 8 ; 9 ; 11 |
| Slovakia | NATIONAL | C | Case definition: anti HCV, PCR. C ; LC; In 2009/2010 No-UI; HCV-RNA | 4 ; 5 ; 8 ; 9 ; 11 |
| Finland | NATIONAL | AC | Case definition: HCV antibody positive or HCV RNA/DNA positive Data given includes acute and chronic cases. AC ; UI ; LC | 6 ; 9 |
| Sweden | NATIONAL | AC | Case definition: anti-HCV positive. AC ; UI ; LC ; HCV-RNA. | 3 ; 11 |
| United Kingdom | ENGLAND AND WALES | AC ; (2) | Case definition: Anti-HCV positive by two EIAs, EIA and RIBA or HCV RNA positive. AC ; UI ; LC ; HCV-RNA. | 41; 45 ; 63 ; 67 |
| Croatia | NATIONAL | AC | Case definition: Individuals positive for anti-HCV. AC ; UI ; LC. | n.a. |
| Norway | NATIONAL | AC | Case definition:Detection of anti-HCV or/and HCV-RNA. AC; UI; LC; No-RNA. | 22 ; 24 ; 26 |
| For references see Table INF-0. - Bibliographic References: part B References for Notifications Data | ||||
Notes:
UI - Unique Identifier
LC - Laboratory Confirmation
HCV-RNA - HCV RNA Results Collected
A - Acute cases
C - Chronic cases
AC - Acute and Chronic cases
1 - Data definition changed in 2000, see Comments
2 - Data are laboratory reports and not notifications. Not all reports include data on risk factors and the number of reports including data on these has declined since 2000. The total number of reports received each year has increased from 241 in 1992 to 8,455 in 2008.
3 - Total AC include also A and C cases
n.a. = not available
For methods and definitions see [Methods and Definitions - Drug related infectious diseases]
Definitions of notifiable HCV infections differ strongly between countries, underreporting may be large and about 80 % of acute infections are asymptomatic. Therefore numbers should not be interpreted as an estimate of real incidence and they cannot be directly compared. Trends over time and the percent IDUs among all notified cases may be more comparable between countries, although these may also be strongly affected by differences in testing patterns between countries and over time. Data for most recent year(s) may be incomplete due to reporting delay.
The figures in the table should be interpreted in conjunction with the relevant methodological comments.
Source:
Reitox national focal points.