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Hepatitis C - A NURSING GUIDE
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored
in a retrieval system, or transcribed, in any form or by any means,
electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without
written permission of the publisher.
© Canadian Nurses Association
50 Driveway
Ottawa ON K2P 1E2
Tel: (613) 237-2133 or 1-800-361-8404
Fax: (613) 237-3520
E-mail: pubs@cna-aiic.ca
Web site: www.cna-aiic.ca
September 2002
ISBN 1-55119-874-6
Aussi disponible en français.
Funding for this publication was provided by the Hepatitis C Division,
Health Canada. The opinions expressed in this publication do not
necessarily reflect the official views of Health Canada.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Many nurses contributed to the development of Hepatitis C: A Nursing
Guide.
In particular we would like to thank the members of the project's
steering committee, who supported the project since its inception
in March 2001. They helped in meeting our objectives and staying
on track, not only by their participation to the meetings but also
in reviewing successive drafts of the guide.
We also want to thank the organizations involved in the project.
Finally, the project benefited from the collaboration of health
care professionals who participated in the Delphi technique and
the experts meeting. Their participation was greatly appreciated.
We also acknowledge the support provided by the Canadian Nurses
Association's staff.
Steering Committee
Colina Yim, BScN, MN
Canadian Association of Hepatology Nurses Acute Care Nurse
Practitioner in Hepatology Ambulatory Care, Liver Clinic
Toronto Western Hospital, Ont.
Co-chair |
Nathalie Graveline, RN
Canadian Association of Nurses in AIDS Care
Clinical Nurse Specialist
L'Oasis, Ottawa, Ont. |
Bruce Gamage, RN, BSN, CIC
Community and Hospital Infection Control Association-Canada
Infection Control Consultant
British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, B.C. Co-chair |
Lynn Greenblatt
Program Consultant, Care & Treatment Support
Hepatitis C Division, Health Canada
Ottawa, Ont. |
Joni Boyd, RN, BA, BNSc, MEd
Canadian Nurses Association
Nursing Policy Consultant
Ottawa, Ont |
Ann Harrington, RN
Canadian Association of Nurses in Hemophilia Care
Hemophilia Nurse Coordinator
Comprehensive Hemophilia Care Centre
St. Michael's Hospital Toronto, Ont. |
Eleanor Guilding, RN
Canadian Occupational Health Nurses Association
Vancouver Island Health Authority
Shawnigan Lake, B.C. |
Mai Nguyen
Senior Research Analyst
Division of Nosocomial and Occupational
Infections Health Canada
Ottawa, Ont. |
Debi Ripley
Consumer representative
Moncton, N.B. |
Marie-Josée Paquin, RN, B.Sc.
Palliative Clinical Nurse Specialist
Calgary Health Region - Home Care
Calgary, Alta. |
Marilyn Sark, RN
Aboriginal Nurses Association of Canada
Lennox, P.E.I. |
Nancy Sutton
Correctional Services of Canada - Health Services
Ottawa, Ont. |
Josie Sather, RN
Canadian Association of Nephrology Nurses and Technologists
St. Catherines, Ont. |
Lynne Young, RN, PhD
Canadian Association of University Schools of Nursing
University of Victoria
Lower Mainland Campus
Vancouver, B.C. |
Donna Smith, RN
Community Health Nurses Association of Canada
Manager, Family Health Program
Public Health Services, Central Region
Dartmouth, N.S. |
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Experts Committee
Caroline Brunt, RN
Street Nurse
British Columbia Centre for Disease Control
Vancouver, B.C. |
Cynthia Hitsman
Manager, Business Development
VON Canada
Ottawa, Ont. |
Gail Butt, RN
Administrator, Prevention & Care Management
British Columbia Centre for Disease Control - Hepatitis
Services
Vancouver, B.C. |
Josée Beaucage, Inf. B.Sc.Inf
Responsable de la clinique d'hépatologie
Hôpital Ste-Justine
Montréal, Qué. |
Lise Dupuis, RN
Viral Hepatitis & HIV/AIDS Clinical Nurse Coordinator
Moncton, N.B. |
Marie Kane, RN
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Ottawa Hospital - Module G
Ottawa, Ont. |
Chantal Fontaine, Inf.
Chef régionale des services de santé -
Région du Québec
SCC Cowansville
Cowansville, Qué. |
Odette Leblanc-Pellerin, RN.
Regional Chief - Clinical Services
Correctional Services of Canada
Dorchester, N.B. |
Roberta Heale, RN (EC) Nurse Practitioner
VON Canada, Sudbury Branch
Sudbury, Ont. |
Josée Lynch
Crawford
Ottawa, Ont. |
Carole Pavitt, RN
Aboriginal Nurses Association of Canada
Sunset Bay, Man. |
Patricia Malloy, RN, CNSNP in Infectious Disease
Toronto, Ont. |
Madeleine Senosier RN, BSc, MSc,
Hepatology Nurse Specialist
SMBD Jewish General Hospital
Montréal, Qué. |
Virginia Wheeler, RN
Safeworks Calgary
Calgary Health Region
Calgary, Alta. |
Sue Daniels, RN
Nursing Consultant
Reproductive Care Program of Nova Scotia
Halifax, N.S. |
Reviewers
Felicity Hemming RN,BSN
Public health nurse
Fraser Health Authority - North Delta Public Health
Delta, B.C. |
Indigo Sweetwater, RN
Nurse Consultant
BC Director of ANAC
President of Native and Inuit Nurses
Kamloops, B.C. |
Lesley Cole, RN, BSN
Research Nurse
Hepatitis C Transmission Study Children and Women's
Health Centre of BC Vancouver, B.C. |
Project Management
Antoinette Lambert, Inf, MEd
Project Coordinator
Canadian Nurses Association
Ottawa, Ont. |
Barbara Laperrière, RN, MSc
Consultant/Writer
Ottawa, Ont. |
Pierre Lambert
Project Assistant
Ottawa, Ont. |
Jane Wilson
Consultant/Writer
Ottawa, Ont. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. Introduction
II. Overview
III. Information on Hepatitis C
IV. Living with Hepatitis C
V. The Nurse and Hepatitis C
VI. Glossary of Terms
VII. Readings and Other Resources
VIII. References
IX. Appendices
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I. INTRODUCTION
The Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) believes professional nursing
associations have the responsibility to encourage and support evidence-based
nursing practices. In fulfilling this responsibility, Hepatitis
C: A Nursing Guide has been published in 2002.
This guide is the first to be produced in Canada for Canadian
nurses and other health professionals. The guide will provide a
holistic approach to nursing care of clients with hepatitis C or
clients at risk of developing hepatitis C.
Hepatitis C affects at least 0.8 per cent of the Canadian population,
more than 240,000 people. Currently, a study of the economic impact
of hepatitis C in Canada is underway. Health Canada anticipates
that hepatitis C will become the leading cause of liver transplants,
and the medical costs are expected to exceed those for HIV. Many
of those who are infected with hepatitis C are not aware of their
infection, because they may experience only mild symptoms, if any.
More definable symptoms may begin to appear 20 to 30 years after
the initial infection and can lead to severe complications like
cirrhosis or cancer of the liver.
Hepatitis C: A Nursing Guide, funded by Health Canada's
Hepatitis C Division, was written by nurses with the intention of
making the guide accessible to anyone interested. The writers consulted
expert nurses belonging to national associations and working in
various care settings, including prisons, the streets, tertiary
centres and the community. Hard copies of the guide can be requested
through CNA. The guide is also available on CNA's web site
www.cna-aiic.ca.
The guide will be used as the basis for train-the-trainers workshops.
In closing, I would like to acknowledge the members of the advisory
committee and the expert panel who worked with CNA to develop the
focus of the content. The writers, Barbara LaPerrière and
Jane Wilson, did an amazing job of listening to the group's
comments, capturing the objectives of the working group and integrating
all the comments into this guide.
Yours sincerely,
Lucille Auffrey, RN, MN
Executive Director
Canadian Nurses Association
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II OVERVIEW
Hepatitis C is the most common cause of chronic liver disease
in the western world. With more than three per cent of the world's
population infected by hepatitis C, this disease has become a major
public health challenge. The World Health Organization (WHO) has
estimated there are more than 170 million people with chronic hepatitis,
all carriers of the infection.
Why is hepatitis C so problematic? It stems from the fact that
hepatitis C is a kind of public health iceberg: the majority of
people who have hepatitis C have no symptoms and are not aware they
are infected by the virus. At the same time, however, they are able
to transmit it to others.
Hepatitis C represents a significant challenge to the health and
well-being of Canadians and to the health care system. Hepatitis
C infection becomes chronic in about 85 per cent of adults, but
it can take several years before any symptoms of the disease appear.
In Canada alone, it is estimated that 4,000 new cases are diagnosed
each year. Many HCV infected people are in the 30 to 39 age group
and may become affected by complications of the disease over the
next 10 to 20 years. Cirrhosis of the liver, liver failure and deaths
due to liver disease will increase dramatically.
While the modes of transmission of HCV are generally understood,
there is still much that is not known about the disease. There is
no vaccine. Prevention and control are absolutely key to halting
the cycle of transmission.
Nurses have an important role to play in this challenge, in terms
of assisting people with hepatitis C to live safely and in good
health with this disease, as well as in working to reduce the risk
of spreading hepatitis C.
This guide has been prepared to provide practical information
to nurses, based on the best available information to date.
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III INFORMATION ON HEPATITIS C
Epidemiology
Prior to 1989, when hepatitis C was first identified, it was known
that there was some factor causing hepatitis among people who received
blood transfusions or blood products. It was originally termed "non-A,
non-B" hepatitis.
Today, we know that hepatitis C is an enveloped RNA virus, a member
of the flaviviridae family. It constantly mutates, which is why
it is able to evade the body's immune system.
In fact, the hepatitis C virus is not one but several viruses,
each of which differs slightly from the others in its genetic makeup.
These "families" of the hepatitis C virus are classified
as genotypes. Six major genotypes of HCV have been identified; differences
exist within the genotypes too, so there are classifications for
the subtypes, such as 1a, 1b, etc. The fact that there are several
genotypes distributed throughout the world indicates that the hepatitis
C virus has existed for many years.
The predominant type of hepatitis C in Canada is genotype 1, but
all types have been seen in Canada. Genotypes appear to vary in
pathogenicity and in how they respond to the antiviral therapy.
Genotype 1b has been shown to have a significantly lower response
to interferon treatment.
It is estimated that approximately 0.8 per cent of the population,
or more than 240,000 people, are infected by hepatitis C.1
The number of cases diagnosed has increased dramatically since 1992,
partly due to improved awareness and recognition of the infection.
According to the Population and Public Health Branch of Health Canada,
the peak rate of HCV infection occurs in the 30 to 39 age group.
The rates also "bulge" in the 40 to 59 age group, which
may reflect infection acquired during the 1960s and 1970s.
Hepatitis C is a reportable disease in Canada.
Risk factors and HCV
High risk behaviour: The rate of HCV
is higher among people who engage in certain high risk behaviours
that can expose them to HCV-infected blood, primarily injection
drug use.
Gender: The rate of HCV infection among
males is twice that of females.
People with haemophilia: Prior
to 1990 (when screening for HCV was instituted), the number of HCV
infected patients among the transfused haemophilia population was
near 95 per cent. According to the Canadian Haemophilia Society,
70 per cent of people with haemophilia are also infected with hepatitis
C.
Aboriginal peoples: According to Health
Canada, the rate of HCV among Canada's aboriginal peoples
is seven times higher than the rate for non-aboriginal Canadian-
born people.
Children: In the past, HCV was seen among
children who were recipients of blood transfusions and blood products
before today's screening techniques were used. At present,
most new cases of HCV among children are a result of "vertical
transmission," from the child's mother. In youth, new
cases result from other behaviours involving contact with contaminated
blood, such as injection drug use or body piercing, among adolescents.
Modes of transmission
The primary means of transmission of the hepatitis C virus is
through blood, usually through some form of injection. The major
group of people at risk for infection are those who share needles
and other paraphernalia to use drugs.
See below for the sources of infection as listed by WHO. Nurses
will want to remember that immigrants to Canada may have been exposed
to risk from practices or procedures that are not usual within Canada.
Injection drug use: According
to estimates from Health Canada, injection drug use accounts
for 70 per cent of all prevalent HCV infections. There is
the potential to become infected through the use of contaminated
drug equipment, including straws, spoons and other devices
employed in drug use, even without injection.
Workplace exposure: Canadian Needle
Stick Surveillance data show that nurses reported more than
half the number of needlestick injuries in Canada. The rate
of HCV infection among health care and emergency services
workers, due to exposure to infected blood or bodily fluids,
is currently thought to be about that of, or perhaps slightly
higher than, the general population, at one to two per cent.
The actual number of cases may be higher due to under-reporting.
Blood transfusions: The risk of
acquiring HCV from a blood transfusion or blood products is
now very low, less than 1:500,000 units of blood donated.
Organ transplantation also carried a risk for HCV prior to
institution of the current HCV antibody screening techniques.
Nurses should note that people may come to Canada having received
blood or blood products in countries where blood is not screened
for HCV.
Sexual contact: While the risk
of acquiring HCV from an infected partner is low, there is
evidence suggesting that individuals who engage in high-risk
sexual behaviours may face a higher level of risk where no
other risk factors have been reported. People with open genital
lesions or who engage in sex during menstruation may increase
their risk of acquiring HCV. HIV and herpes simplex II co-infections
are also associated with sexual transmission of HCV. The rate
of HCV among men who have sex with men (MSM) is similar to
that for heterosexuals.
Mother-to-child: The risk of vertical
transmission of HCV from mother to unborn child is less than
eight per cent (Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
of Canada, 2000). The following factors have been identified
as increasing the risk of vertical transmission of HCV: HIV
infection in the mother and a high maternal viral load. Currently,
there is no evidence that breast milk is a means of transmitting
the disease, however it is advised to avoid breastfeeding
if the mother is HCV positive and has cracked/bleeding nipples.
Piercing/tattooing/acupuncture:
Because of the possibility of exposure to infected blood where
unsterile devices are used for tattooing, body piercing and
acupuncture, this activity is considered to be a risk factor.
Nosocomial infection: Patients
who are on long-term hemodialysis have a higher rate of HCV
infection than the general population because of exposure
to equipment in contact with blood. Concerns are being raised
about other means of exposure to infection possibly through
the reuse of single-use medical devices for diagnostic and
treatment purposes.
Other: Household contact as from
using shared articles such as toothbrushes or razors is a
potential means of transmission because of the possibility
of exposure to infected blood, but is uncommon. HCV is not
spread through casual contact such as hugging or kissing.
About 10 per cent of people diagnosed with HCV appear to
have no known risk factor. |
Risk factors
People may be at risk for HCV if they:
- Engage in drug use, sharing inadequately cleaned or dirty
needles, straws or other equipment that could be contaminated
with infected blood;
- Have contact with contaminated equipment for the purpose
of medical treatment, tattooing or body piercing;
- Have had a needlestick injury or mucous membrane exposure
to blood or bodily fluids capable of transmitting HCV; or
- Were born to a mother who has hepatitis C.
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Co-infection with HIV and hepatitis B
Hepatitis C occurs in 50 to 90 per cent of HIV-positive patients
who have parenteral risk factors. As of 2000, it was estimated that
more than 11,000 people in Canada are co-infected with HCV and HIV.
Injection drug users and MSM are the two primary groups dually infected;
people with hemophilia may also be co-infected. Progression to cirrhosis
of the liver is more rapid among those who are coinfected than those
with hepatitis C alone (Canadian Association for Study of the Liver,
2000).
HCV is also seen as a co-infection with hepatitis B; the outcome
tends to be more severe than for either virus alone. Usually, one
infection is dominant and the other dormant, but occasionally, both
diseases are active (Canadian Association for Study of the Liver,
2000).
Clinical features of hepatitis C
With acute hepatitis C, patients typically have no symptoms or
exhibit only mild signs of any illness. Only 20 to 30 per cent of
people infected with HCV exhibit symptoms. Symptoms might include
jaundice, anorexia, malaise, dark urine, abdominal pain and fatigue.
There is a time lapse of six to seven weeks between the exposure
to the virus and any symptoms that may result. Seroconversion, or
the appearance of the HCV antibody in the blood, may take eight
to nine weeks following exposure to the virus.
The majority of people with HCV (70 to 80 per cent) proceed to
the chronic phase of the disease. Of these, 10 to 20 per cent develop
cirrhosis of the liver, which can lead to liver failure and death,
while one to five per cent develop hepatocellular cancer (HCC).
The course of chronic hepatitis C is slow and insidious, with most
patients showing few physical signs of the disease during the first
20 years after infection. People may experience a progression from
mild to moderate to severe hepatitis. People with chronic HCV are
usually identified during blood screenings.
Tests and diagnosis
As hepatitis C infection is usually asymptomatic, testing for
HCV is done when physicians are treating patients for acute hepatitis
(10 per cent), when investigating liver enzyme abnormalities (70
per cent), when there are symptoms present such as fatigue that
could indicate liver disease (10 per cent) and when there is decompensating
liver disease (10 per cent).
Diagnosis of hepatitis C is made based on the results of an enzyme
immunoassay (EIA) that identifies anti-HCV-specific antibodies and
the detection of HCV RNA through amplification tests such as polymerase
chain reaction (PCR).
Essentially, there are two types of testing: qualitative tests
provide a positive or negative result; quantitative tests give the
viral concentration or viral load. Qualitative HCV-RNA testing is
not necessary to make the diagnosis of hepatitis C in patients who
are anti-HCV positive, but is indicated for those patients who are
anti-HCV positive with persistently normal ALT (alanine aminotransferase)
levels.
There are two limitations to diagnosis of HCV: first, the EIAs
tend to be very sensitive and can result in false positive results,
which need to be confirmed through further testing, such as recombinant
immunoblot assay (RIBA). Second, the long lag time between initial
infection and the appearance of anti-HCV antibodies means that the
frequency of detecting HCV during the acute phase is low.
More recently, the development of nucleic acid amplification testing
(NAT) has had a dramatic effect on the diagnostic process as a form
of supplemental testing to exclude false positive results. NAT is
positive one to two weeks after HCV infection. The test is used
to confirm infection and to determine end of treatment response.
Interpretation of HCV Testing Results
ALT concentration |
HCV RNA result |
Interpretation |
Normal |
Positive |
Patient is infected with undetectable liver disease. |
Normal |
Negative |
False positive anti-HCV
Spontaneous viral clearance
False negative HCV RNA
Dormant HCV infection |
Elevated |
Positive |
Infected with active liver disease. |
Elevated |
Negative |
False positive
Spontaneous viral clearance
False negative HCV RNA
Dormant HCV infection; some other cause for liver disease |
Source: Canadian Association for the
Study of the Liver (CASL). (2000). Management of Viral Hepatitis.
Recommended Guidelines for Physicians.
Current medical treatment
Interferon or a combination of interferon and ribavirin is used
to treat hepatitis C.
Acute hepatitis C
Acute HCV infection is now identified primarily in people who
have received an accidental needlestick injury. To detect infection,
health care workers or others who have experienced a needlestick
injury or other type of exposure should be tested for anti- HCV
at the time of injury and after 12 weeks.
Early treatment of acute hepatitis C with interferon monotherapy
may enhance the likelihood of response. The decision to treat the
infection has to be balanced with the fact that as many as 15 per
cent of people may spontaneously clear the virus. People with acute
hepatitis C should be treated by a specialist with follow-up visits.
Chronic hepatitis C
Treatment is usually considered for patients who are between 18
and 70 years of age (some experts say 60) who have elevated ALT
levels and inflammation or fibrosis of the liver demonstrated on
biopsy. The major indication is that the ALT level is more than
1.5 times the upper normal limit. A liver biopsy is recommended
to grade or stage the progression of disease; if the biopsy result
shows a normal liver or minimal inflammation, treatment may not
be necessary.
Other factors to be considered in the decision to treat HCV include
the estimated probability of the patient developing cirrhosis and
liver failure, and the presence of any other health conditions that
may compete with the HCV for mortality. Contraindications for treatment
include active alcohol or substance abuse; pregnancy or lack of
contraception; or a predicted inability to follow a treatment regimen.
Ideally, patients should abstain from alcohol while in treatment.
Currently, chronic hepatitis in children is not generally treated
except in controlled trials.
Long-term studies demonstrate the effectiveness of anti-viral
therapies. These therapies include standard interferon monotherapy,
a combination of interferon and ribavirin, pegylated interferon
monotherapy and a combination of pegylated interferon with ribavirin.
A sustained response with a long-term viral clearance is achieved
in 30 to 40 per cent of cases. (Combinations of pegylated interferon
plus ribavirin are expected to be approved in Canada in late 2002.)
The treatment regimen most widely used is a combination of interferon
alfa 2-b and the antiviral drug ribavirin. Interferon monotherapy
is reserved for those patients who cannot tolerate ribavirin. Patients
with advanced cirrhosis of the liver who might be at risk for decompensation
and pregnant women should not receive anti-viral treatment.
Duration of treatment is determined by the virus genotype. For
types 2 and 3, treatment is usually for 24 weeks; for all others,
treatment is prescribed for 48 weeks, if a response to treatment
has been seen at 24 weeks to increase rates of sustained virologic
response.
The definition of successful treatment is when HCV-RNA becomes
negative during therapy and remains negative six months after the
treatment is completed. Repeated measurements of HCV-RNA using PCR
assays in these "sustained responders" have now conclusively
shown that 95 per cent of sustained responders remain virus-free
for two, five, eight or more years, and are considered to be virus-free
indefinitely, which many experts are now describing as "cured."
If patients do not clear HCV-RNA after 24 weeks of treatment,
they are not likely to become sustained responders.
Side effects of interferon alfa 2b/ribavirin therapy include flu-like
symptoms, anemia, depression and alopecia. As well, aggression has
been observed in patients undergoing treatment. Testing may also
indicate changes in hemoglobin, thyroid function, uric acid levels,
neutrophil counts and platelet counts (see "The Nurse and
Hepatitis C" for more information on nursing management of
treatment side effects).
Patients are increasingly interested in complementary or alternative
remedies for HCV, particularly when there has been a failure to
respond to anti-viral therapy. There are three groups: vitamins
and minerals, herbs and homeopathic remedies. Nurses should ask
patients if they are considering such remedies as not all preparations
are safe for use during anti-viral therapy or for the compromised
liver.
Prevention
Injection drug use is now the chief mode of transmission of HCV.
Other modes of transmission include tattooing, body piercing with
unsterile equipment, sexual, occupational, vertical (mother to child)
and household transmission. Being infected with one genotype of
HCV does not protect against another genotype.
Prevention efforts are best aimed at people who engage in high-risk
behaviours, primarily those who inject drugs or use drug equipment
that could be contaminated with infected blood. Health care professionals
in all settings should question patients about injection drug use
and high-risk sexual practices (see section "Special Considerations:
Substance Use" for more information on harm reduction).
Injection Drug Use
Research shows the need to direct hepatitis C prevention strategies
toward people who are just beginning to inject drugs or contemplating
injection (Health Canada, 2000). Users of drugs that are not injected
should be counselled on the danger of infection from equipment such
as straws, which could be contaminated with infected blood.
Tattooing and Piercing
Anyone considering tattooing, body or ear piercing or acupuncture
should be counselled to ensure that these practices are carried
out with sterile equipment, preferably one-time-use equipment. This
includes the ink used for tattoos. People should be counselled to
observe that the practitioner also carries out other standard infection
control measures such as hand-washing and cleaning of work surfaces.
Sexual transmission
The transmission of HCV from spouse to spouse is rare. However,
contact with multiple partners and co-infection with HIV and herpes
simplex II have been associated with increased risk for hepatitis
C.
The following steps have been recommended:
- The infected person should inform sexual partners; testing
should be offered to the partners.
- Use of a condom is advised in short-term sexual relationships.
- Infected women should avoid unprotected sex during menstruation
as the virus may be present in menstrual blood.
Occupational exposure
Health care and emergency workers should all be trained in the
risk and prevention of bloodborne infections, and should report
any percutaneous or permucosal exposure to blood, or exposure through
non-intact skin, to their employers. Although the risk of infection
is relatively low, every effort should be made to make an early
diagnosis and reduce the risk of nosocomial infection. Protocols
for follow-up of such employees should be in place (see Readings
and Other Resources, Occupational exposure and prevention/health
care workers).
Recommendations have been made for health care workers who are
infected with HCV (see "Special Considerations: Health care
workers").
Vertical transmission
Transmission of HCV from mother to child can occur at the time
of birth. Delivery by caesarean section may not prevent transmission
of HCV. Breast-feeding is considered safe as long as the nipples
are not cracked and bleeding.
Household exposure
People with HCV should be advised not to share personal articles
such as toothbrushes or razors because of the possibility they may
be contaminated with small amounts of infected blood. People with
HCV should also cover cuts and open sores on the skin. The nurse
may also counsel them on how to manage accidental spills of blood
(see Health Canada, 1998a for more information).
People infected with HCV should not donate blood, body organs,
other tissue or semen.
Screening for HCV
Anyone who is concerned about the risk for HCV due to high-risk
behaviour or other factors should be tested. Routine testing is
recommended only for people who are engaged in high-risk behaviour,
such as injection drug users or health care workers who may have
been exposed.
Testing for hepatitis C
- Anyone who has injected drugs, even once.
- People with medical conditions who received clotting
factor concentrates before 1990, were ever on long-term
hemodialysis or have persistently abnormal ALT levels.
- People who received an organ transplant or a transfusion
of blood or blood products before 1992.
- Health care or emergency workers who have had injuries
from needlesticks or sharps.
- Children born to HCV-positive women.
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IV LIVING WITH HEPATITIS C
Living with hepatitis C involves learning to live with the physical,
emotional, social and financial consequences of the disease. Most
people live with hepatitis C for many years without experiencing
physical symptoms. Others have to deal with a variety of symptoms
that range from mild to severe and that may come and go over time.
Many people find the hardest part is learning to live with the emotional
and social aspects of the disease. When the disease is first diagnosed,
people need to deal with the emotional impact of learning they have
a chronic illness that is potentially life threatening. They have
to learn to deal with the uncertainty surrounding the progression
of symptoms and the disease. They may be confronted with the social
stigma associated with hepatitis C and the fear other people have
of contracting the disease. Who to tell, when to tell and how to
tell others about their infection becomes an issue.
People living with hepatitis C may be faced with financial concerns
resulting from loss of income and cost of treatment. Drug therapy
is expensive and may not be fully covered by provincial drug and
treatment plans.
The following stories are personal accounts written by three people
living with hepatitis C. The stories illustrate the far-reaching
consequences of having the infection. The authors describe the challenges
of living with a chronic illness for both themselves and their families.
They reveal how, with support and education, they are learning to
cope with the challenges.
Living with hepatitis C as a mother
I am a 39-year-old mother of three children. I have hepatitis
C and contracted it by IV drug use in the late 1990s. I was diagnosed
in 1996 after my then boyfriend told me he had hepatitis C. When
we started to go out with each other, I had asked him if he was
clean and his answer was yes, that he went for all the tests for
sexual diseases, HIV and hepatitis - he was clean. We were
together for a year, and he left. As he went out the door he informed
me he had hepatitis C, and I should be tested for it. I was very
angry with him, as he knew he had this disease, and he deliberately
lied to me by saying he was clean.
I called my doctor the next day to make an appointment to get tested.
A week later I received a call from his office - he wanted
to see me the next day. I was very scared about what he was going
to say. He told me I was positive for hepatitis C. All he could
tell me was that there was no cure for this disease. He also told
me to go home and live a normal life. When I got back from the doctor's
office I started to cry. I thought, what will happen to my children?
Where will they go? Who will look after them after I die? They hadn't
told me how long I had to live. The doctor, at the time, didn't
have information on this disease.
A friend of mine knew of a place I could call and get the support
and all the information I needed to learn about this disease. I
was introduced to someone from that hepatitis C support group. I
was so happy I had a place to go and talk to someone that knew what
to expect.
I told my children I had hepatitis C, and they had to be careful
not to touch my toothbrush and my nail clippers. They couldn't
understand what was going on at first, only that Mom was sick, and
they had to be careful when I was bleeding and let me clean up my
own cuts. They were not sure if they could get hepatitis C by hugging
or kissing me. I told them that it was all right, and I had someone
talk to them so they could understand things.
I have lost some jobs and had to learn to watch my money because
I have to buy certain food that I wouldn't normally buy for
myself. I have learned from the past not to mention that I have
hepatitis C to anyone. I only inform the dentist or the nurses and
technicians at the hospital. When I go for jobs, I will not tell
them, because so many people don't understand hepatitis C
and they don't understand that there is no chance they can
get it from me unless it is blood-to-blood contact
I was referred to a gastroenterologist. He did some blood tests
and a liver biopsy, and he decided to start me on treatment. Then
the only available treatment was interferon. I couldn't do
the whole six months because the side effects were too hard on me.
I did stay on it for three months, and the treatment was still a
success I went into remission for five years. Now I have come out
of remission and am on Rebetron® (ribavirin). It is going very
well so far. It's been three months since I started, and I
feel much better than the first couple of months. They will decide
in three more months if I can do the full 48 weeks. I hope so.
I have someone special in my life who does not have hepatitis C.
He took the time to research the disease, and he still wanted a
relationship with me. We have a wonderful relationship as a family,
and we are making future plans for when the kids grow up and leave.
It is nice to see that there are some people in this world who will
take the time to see that we are not contagious to others under
usual circumstances. There is still hope for everyone to have a
normal relationship.
Some family members said I got what I deserved. I lost some friends
and gained some very close friends. I never told my neighbours.
Having hepatitis C has changed my life. Sometimes I feel it changed
it for the worse, and sometimes I feel it changed me for the better.
I do look at life differently now.
Living with hepatitis C as a person who injected
drugs
I am a 51-year-old male with a history of substance use. I have
been injecting drugs for the past 35 years. I started injecting
drugs in Vancouver when I was 16 years of age. Heroin was my drug
of choice. My first fix was in jail where I was taught by other
inmates. Most of my early years were spent on Vancouver's
downtown eastside.
My first connection with hepatitis was in 1976 when I was diagnosed
with chronic hepatitis in correctional facilities. I was feeling
sick at that time, got jaundice and was quarantined for nine days.
For a while after that period, I would get jaundice and feel ill
about every six months.
I was incarcerated several times over the years and was last released
in 1981. I always made sure I had my own supplies and only shared
occasionally when I was in jail. My injecting has slowed down over
the past 10 years, and I haven't injected at all for the last
year. I have also been on Methadone for the past several years.
In 1994 I was diagnosed with hepatitis C, and my doctor was unsure
of how long I had it. For the last three years, I have felt very
tired, some days exhausted from little activity, unable to work
because of pain on my right side almost every day. Last year I saw
the hepatologist, and at that time, he did not recommend I go on
treatment. He said my blood work was not severe enough yet.
Every day is frustrating now. I haven't felt healthy for
quite some time. I live on a limited income, and I manage a boarding
house to help with my rent. My Methadone is also an added expense.
My budget for food is limited, and it is hard to eat healthy on
a limited budget. I take Vitamin C, exercise and drink plenty of
water.
I get support from my friends who are also hepatitis C positive,
and I also attend a support group for people with hepatitis C. I
am quite open about my hepatitis C and am not afraid to talk about
it. I have lost contact with a lot of my family. I do have a daughter
that I talk with on occasion, and she knows I have Hepatitis C.
I try to keep myself as healthy as I can, and I do more on the
days that I feel better. Basically, I take one day at a time and
do the best I can with what I've got.
Living with hepatitis C as a nurse
My name is Debi Ripley. I am a 46-year-old mother of two teenaged
children, and I am a non-practising nurse, although I am taking
a nursing refresher course. I have hepatitis C and probably became
infected in the late 1970s or early '80s. I wasn't diagnosed
until 1995.
I have a few risk factors for hepatitis C: I was an operating
room registered nurse for 15 years, and I received a blood transfusion
after a caesarean section for my son in 1983.
I worked as a scrub and circulating nurse in operating rooms in
my hometown of Moncton, New Brunswick, as well as Edmonton and Calgary,
Alberta, and four different trauma hospitals in Riverside and Los
Angeles, California. Many times I had been cut with dirty scalpels
and suture needles.
Due to the progression of my disease, my specialist feels that
I was first infected in the O.R., then re-infected by a tainted
blood transfusion. All I know is that I have became progressively
sicker since 1985 when I became pregnant with my second child.
Through the years my illness remained undiagnosed although I ran
the gamut of symptoms - irritable bowel syndrome, pain in
my right upper abdomen, constant aches in my joints, muscles and
bones with an unexplained rheumatoid factor, headaches, decreased
resistance to infections (in California I had meningitis, encephalitis
and several bouts of pneumonia back at home), depression, insomnia,
extreme fatigue and weight loss.
By the time I became too sick to work, I had lost my job in California
and consequently lost my house, furniture, my husband and car and
sold my personal possessions to come home. All the doctors I had
seen for these vague but real symptoms came to the same conclusion:
I was overly stressed and, as a woman, these symptoms were "all
in my head" - psychosomatic.
In desperation, I was forced to accept social assistance, and
finally, I consulted the family doctor in one last call for help.
In the many blood tests, he discovered that my liver enzymes were
more than double the high normal. A subsequent hepatitis C test
proved positive.
I was relieved, devastated and puzzled all at the same time. Relieved
to know that there was a name to this illness, yet devastated to
think that I had a "terminal" disease and that there
was a real possibility of losing my career. I was puzzled, because
even being a nurse, I was not sure what hepatitis C was. I also
had to face the probability that I unknowingly accidentally infected
patients.
Knowing that I had a physical disease with a name helped to put
everything else into perspective. I knew that I could research hepatitis
C and learn how to cope with this potentially debilitating disease.
And that is what I did.
My nursing training and instincts kicked in, and before long,
even through two treatments plagued with many side effects, I formed
a hepatitis C support/self-help group to help others infected/affected
with hepatitis C, regardless of the source and to raise awareness
in the Atlantic provinces.
What I have gone through goes a long way towards understanding
others with any chronic illness. The emotions of the grieving process
are the same as when one loses a loved one, but we are in the continual
process of losing our health. Helping others gets our minds off
ourselves and brings a personal satisfaction that we have made a
difference in someone's life.
Yes, I have lost everything to this disease, but I also gained
so much more. Material possessions do not mean the world to me anymore
- they are things that can come and go. I have learned the
hard way to appreciate the so-called little things in life -
a sunny day, laughing with my kids, my parents' love, the
peace and joy in my heart from my God and knowing that I am making
at least a small difference in this world.
My passion and perfectionism for the challenges of the operating
room has been replaced by my genuine devotion to helping people
in all aspects of hepatitis C. The old adage still applies -
once a nurse, always a nurse. I'm just in a different field.
"One thing that I do, forgetting those things that are behind
and reaching forward to those things which are ahead…"
Philippians 3:13
[Excerpted from Canadian Journal of Public Health, 2000, 91(Supplement
1). Reprinted with permission.]
Helping people live with hepatitis C
Stories like those told here can help nurses understand what clients
consider most important in relation to their health. The nurse and
client can begin to work in partnership to address the client's
health related concerns from the client's starting point.
In the client-nurse partnership, clients bring expertise on their
bodies, how their bodies are responding to their illness and the
social environment they live in with their disease. Nurses bring
professional expertise. Information in the next section will assist
nurses in building their expertise in the care of people living
with hepatitis C and their families.
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V THE NURSE AND HEPATITIS C
Nursing care of people with hepatitis C and their families requires
a holistic approach through which nurses help their clients meet
their physical, psychological, emotional, spiritual and socioeconomic
needs. The holistic approach recognizes that multiple factors have
an impact on people's health - factors such as income,
education, housing and the environment, as well as the health care
services they receive.
The care team
Many people who are living with hepatitis C and their families
have complex care and treatment needs that can benefit from the
knowledge and skills of an interdisciplinary team2.
Team members become active partners with the individual with hepatitis
C and their families in decision-making and care planning.
The person with hepatitis
The person living with hepattis C has the right to choose how he
or she will participate in treatment and care decisions. Some will
take a more active role than others. The nurse must respect people's
right to exercise autonomy in decisions affecting them. This puts
responsibility on the nurse to ensure that people living with hepatitis
C have the information and tools needed to make informed decisions.
Working in partnership in planning care provides an enriching experience
for the person living with hepatitis C and all others involved in
his or her care.
The family
Family means those who are closest to the person. It includes
the family of origin or acquisition (parents, children, siblings,
spouse) and the family of choice (anyone people choose to have close
to them) (McAmmond, 1998). The person living with hepatitis C will
decide how the family will be involved in his or her care.
The team
Composition of the care team will vary depending on the needs of
the individual and his or her family. The team may have two or three
health care providers who maintain consistency of care such as a
primary care nurse or physician. The skills and knowledge of many
health care providers may be necessary over the course of the person's
illness, and they will participate on the team, as required. It
is important for someone to assume the function of coordinating
the team. The person with hepatitis C or another member of the team
may assume this role. Frequently, the nurse takes on the role of
case manager. Volunteers and informal care providers are often members
of the team. Planning and implementing team building activities
promotes more effective team functioning.
Context of care
Important concepts3 in nursing care
for people with hepatitis C include health promotion, human rights,
advocacy and empowerment, confidentiality and care across the continuum.
Health promotion
The goal of nurses' health promotion practice is to improve
and maintain health. For many years, nurses assumed that providing
their clients with information about how to change health-related
behaviour would result in the desired change. They were often surprised
when the expected change was not forthcoming. Most recently, nurse
scholars have been exploring health promotion from a new perspective.
A transformative approach to health promotion is "a collaborative
process, one in which the health professional works with clients
(defined as individuals, patients, families, communities and populations)
to gain insights into social, organizational, political and personal
patterns that strengthen or disrupt health and wholeness, and to
take action toward improved health" (Young, 2002, p. 4).
In working with people with hepatitis C and their families, nurses
can incorporate health- promoting patterns of interaction into their
practice. One pattern is to understand the larger context within
which the person with hepatitis C is situated. For example, some
strategies for managing the disease might not be appropriate for
people of limited financial means. One of the women, who told her
story in the previous section, noted that she has to watch her money,
because she has to buy particular foods that she normally would-
n't have purchased. Another health promoting pattern of interaction
is engaging in flexible partnerships. According to persons who have
chronic illnesses such as hepatitis C, effective partnerships with
health care professionals are those that allow genuine sharing of
authority and the exercise of expertise by both parties (Thorne,
2002).
Human rights
It is not known how much discrimination exists against people
with hepatitis C. Nurses and other health care providers must respect
the rights of people with hepatitis C regardless of how they were
infected. There is often a stigma associated with hepatitis C for
injection drug users who may be viewed as being personally responsible
for their illness. Co-infection with HIV may increase the stigma
and discrimination that people face. Everyone living with hepatitis
C should have access to care and services regardless of gender,
race, sexual orientation, lifestyle, place of residence or economic
status.
Advocacy and empowerment
Advocacy is an essential component of hepatitis C care, as people
living with hepatitis C may experience discrimination, violations
of their human rights and impediments in accessing health care.
It is important for nurses to assume the role of advocate at both
the individual and community level. Nurses can help to ensure that
people living with hepatitis C are aware of and understand the choices
available to them. In this way, people are empowered to make decisions
and take actions for their health. At a broader level, nurses can
work to advocate for policy changes that eliminate or reduce the
barriers faced by people with hepatitis C.
Confidentiality
For people living with hepatitis C, breaches of confidentiality
related to their health information can have serious consequences
including stigmatization, isolation, job and housing loss and financial
hardship. When nurses are faced with ethical dilemmas about maintaining
confidentiality, they must work to protect the right of individuals
to confidentiality and seek advice from experts in the field of
human rights and ethics.
Care across the continuum
For most people, hepatitis C infection is a chronic illness that
progresses over many years, at a different rate for each person.
Continuity is an essential component of all care. Within a holistic
framework, nurses engage in therapeutic relationships at every stage
of the person's illness. For example, nurses help people deal
with the emotional impact of diagnosis with hepatitis C. They explain
diagnostic tests and help interpret results. They support people
in making decisions about treatment and in managing symptoms related
to the infection and side effects of therapy. Through interventions
such as counselling, support and education, nurses work closely
with individuals and their families to assist them in meeting their
care needs in living with hepatitis C.
Helping clients learning to live with hepatitis
C
For people living with hepatitis C and their families, knowledge
may help them feel more in control of the disease. They can obtain
information from a variety of sources including print and on-line
material, support groups, educational programs, nurses and other
health care providers. Given the explosion in the amount of material
available, especially on the Internet, nurses should help people
identify reputable sources of high quality health information.
People with hepatitis C generally want information about HCV infection
including risk factors, modes of transmission, disease progression,
treatment and side effects of treatment. Sometimes they want specific
technical information such as techniques for giving themselves antiviral
injections.
Nurses can offer people information about ways to maintain their
health and minimize further damage to the liver such as:
- eating a well-balanced, low-fat, high fibre diet,4
unless advised to follow a special diet because of health problems;
- maintaining normal weight and avoiding obesity;
- exercising regularly;
- avoiding intake of alcohol;
- trying to maintain normal work and recreational activities;
- checking with the physician before starting any new medicines,
including over-the- counter medications and herbal or homeopathic
preparations;
- seeking advice on getting immunized against hepatitis A and
hepatitis B;
- being monitored regularly by a health care team.
Nurses can also help people living with hepatitis C to access sources
of support. Individual support may come from family, friends and
health care providers. Peer support is often available through meetings,
support groups, telephone contacts and online chat groups. Nurses
can help family and friends learn how to support someone living
with hepatitis C.
Compensation has been approved by the federal government for all
patients who have been infected with hepatitis C as a result of
a blood transfusion, factor concentrates or infusion of any blood
components between January 1986 and July 1990. The amount paid depends
on a variety of factors including the severity of disease, whether
treatment has been recommended or completed, and the loss of income.
Several provinces have approved compensation for patients infected
with hepatitis C having used blood, concentrates or blood components
at any time in their life within these provinces. See Readings and
Other Resources for sources of educational material for both people
living with hepatitis C and health care providers and for the federal
compensation claims co-coordinator's contact information.
Symptom management
One way nurses help people maintain and improve their health while
living with hepatitis C is by supporting them in managing and monitoring
the symptoms they experience. These may be symptoms associated with
the virus itself or as a result of antiviral treatment.5
Acute hepatitis C
At the time of initial infection, most people experience no symptoms;
only a third of people infected with the virus feel ill. They may
experience flu-like symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, anorexia,
fatigue, low fever and muscle aches that last two to twelve weeks.
In some people, fatigue lasts longer. Ten per cent may have jaundice
and dark-coloured urine.
Chronic hepatitis C
By definition, hepatitis C is considered chronic when the virus
remains in the body for more than six months. Some people live with
hepatitis C for many years without experiencing any symptoms. Others
report minor symptoms such as fatigue.
Symptoms may come and go. The presence or absence of symptoms
is not indicative of the degree of liver damage. Many symptoms are
not specific to hepatitis C infection and may be experienced by
people with other chronic health problems.
Common symptoms of chronic hepatitis C infection
- fatigue
- abdominal discomfort
- nausea
- anorexia
- sleep disturbance
- pruritis
- depression
(Source: Adapted from Heathcote et al.,
2001)
Management of Commonly Reported Symptoms
The information that follows is presented to increase nurses'
knowledge and understanding of symptoms people with hepatitis C
may experience and possible ways to help clients manage their symptoms.
It is not intended to reflect a prescriptive approach to patient
care. From a health promotion perspective, nurses and patients work
in partnership to address the health-related concerns of the client
from the starting point of the client's agenda not the nurse's
agenda.
Symptom |
Characteristics |
Management |
Fatigue |
A common symptom
Often described as a lack of energy, a feeling of weakness
or sluggishness |
Assess person's lifestyle and activity level.
Promote self-care and self-awareness by having person document
fatigue patterns, rest, nutrition, exercise and activity levels.
Promote need for good nutrition, adequate rest and regular
exercise (within the person's ability to tolerate activity).
Teach energy conservation techniques.
Encourage use of complementary therapies that promote relaxation. |
Abdominal discomfort |
Ranges from a dull ache to more severe "right upper
quadrant pain"
May be due to inflammation of the liver lining |
Encourage person to monitor discomfort and report to physician. |
Nausea |
Generally mild with no vomiting |
Encourage person to report persistent nausea or nausea
with vomiting to physician.
Monitor effects of anti-nausea drugs such as dimenhydrinate,
if prescribed.
Counsel person that such drugs can cause drowsiness and
should not be taken if driving a vehicle. (See Anorexia for
more suggestions) |
Anorexia |
Generally due to combination of factors such as fatigue,
depression, pain and lack of sleep
Occasionally causes weight loss |
Encourage person to:
- eat small frequent meals instead of three large meals
a day; and
- stimulate appetite with regular exercise.
|
Sleep disturbance |
Having trouble falling asleep at night and waking up many
times during normal sleeping hours |
Counsel person to improve sleep routine by:
- reading, listening to music or having a warm drink before
bed;
- avoiding stimulants such as tea, coffee, smoking or excessive
exercise before going to bed; and
- using sedatives as a last resort.
Counsel person to avoid benzodiazepines such as lorazepam,
diazepam and oxazepam. |
Pruritis |
Confined to parts of body
(e.g., both legs) or may be generalized
Usually no skin rash |
Counsel person to:
- add baby oil to bathwater or use a good emollient lotion;
- keep fingers nails short and wear thin gloves in bed
to reduce surface damage to skin if scratching occurs during
sleep;
- wear light clothing of non-irritating material
(e.g., avoid 100% wool);
- consider using unscented laundry detergent; and
- consult a physician for medication to relieve severe
itching, if the severe itching persists.
|
Depression |
May be initial depression upon diagnosis from which most
people recover
May be manifested through symptoms such as lack of motivation,
fatigue, loss of appetite and sleep disturbance
For some people, depression may persist for an extended period
of time |
Consider the need for a psychosocial assessment, which
may include history of interpersonal relationships, pre-existing
mental illness, current distress, coping styles and resources,
history of substance abuse and suicide risk.
Encourage person to:
- develop a safety plan for coping with depression; and
- seek professional help before the feeling becomes severe.
Monitor response to antidepressants if prescribed. |
Less commonly reported symptoms:
- dry eyes and mouth (Sicca syndrome)
- ulcer of the eye (Mooren's corneal ulcer)
- muscle and joint aches
- dizziness
- decreased memory
- decreased concentration
- rash (red blotches, most often on legs)
- blistering skin lesions
(Source: Heathcote et al., 2001)
If you have any question from your patients regarding the medical
use of Marijuana, see Appendix 5.
Management of common side effects of drug treatment
The severity and type of side effects of treatment are different
for each person. Side effects generally disappear quickly once the
treatment is stopped. For some people, the dose of the medication
may need to be adjusted; for others, therapy may have to be discontinued
if the side effects become too severe. People on drug therapy should
try to eat a well-balanced diet, drink plenty of water and exercise
regularly. Nurses should encourage their clients to report any side
effects of treatment so they can receive assistance in managing
the side effects6 (see Appendix 1 for generally accepted drug treatments
and dosages).
Symptom |
Characteristics |
Management |
Flu-like symptoms such as muscle and joint aches, decreased
appetite and nausea |
|
Counsel person to:
- take interferon at bed time so that most of the side
effects occur during sleep;
- take acetaminophen every 4-6 hours and/or prior to injecting
interferon, if symptoms become severe; and
- to consult with physician about safe dosage levels of
acetaminophen.
|
Muscle and joint aches |
|
Counsel person to:
- exercise regularly;
- engage in recreational activities; and
- consider using complementary therapies such as massage
therapy.
|
Decreased appetite and nausea |
The person may experience a metallic taste in the mouth
after the inter- feron injection |
Counsel person to:
- eat regularly;
- try four to five small meals a day; and
- experiment with foods that may be easier to tolerate
such as cold or bland foods.
|
Insomnia |
|
Counsel person to:
- improve sleep routine by reading, listening to music
or having a warm drink before bed; and
- avoid stimulants such as tea, coffee, smoking or excessive
exercise before going to bed.
|
Dry, itchy skin |
|
Counsel person to:
- Increase fluid intake (two to three litres per day) as
soon as treatment starts; and
- take fluids mostly during day to prevent interruption
of sleep.
|
Hair loss |
This is a common side effect and the loss is only temporary
and not total.
A hairpiece/wig is rarely required. |
Encourage person to:
- consider a shorter haircut; and
- avoid perms and colour treatments.
|
Irritability |
|
Introduce person to relaxation techniques.
Counsel person to seek help if unable to control anger. |
Depression |
This is the most common symptom that causes people to
stop interferon therapy. |
Encourage person to:
- deal with the flu-like symptoms as soon as they appear
as they may increase the risk of depression;
- seek professional help before the feeling becomes severe;
- consider contacting a hepatitis C support group; and
- monitor responses to antidepressants, if prescribed.
|
Shortness of breath (dyspnea) |
|
Encourage person to report this symptom to the physician
as the dose may need to be altered.
Counsel the person to sit up slowly before standing up from
a lying position, if he or she feels faint. |
Diarrhea |
The onset of loose stools is often noticed at the beginning
of interferon treatment together with the flu-like symptoms.
Diarrhea usually lasts for one or more months. |
Counsel person to:
- increase daily fluid intake to three litres to avoid
dehydration; and
- avoid milk and milk products and excessive amounts of
fruit.
|
Mouth ulcers |
Ulcers may develop in the mouth at any time during treatment
and are more common when ribavirin is added to interferon.
|
Counsel person to:
- eat soft fruits such as bananas, steamed vegetables and
ground meat;
- drink milk or milk shakes, if tolerated, as they are
high in calories and protein; and
- monitor weight: high-calorie/high-protein liquid or powdered
dietary supplements may be prescribed by the physician,
if required.
|
Special considerations
Substance Use
Sharing of substance use equipment or injection drug use is currently
the main mode of transmission of hepatitis C virus in Canada. After
five years of injecting drugs, as many as 90 per cent of users are
infected with the hepatitis C virus (CLF National Hepatitis C Education
Program, 2000). Injection drug users living with hepatitis C, like
those living with HIV/AIDS, often have had a poor relationship with
health care providers as a result of
- their unique life circumstances;
- discrimination related to injection drug use and hepatitis
C; and
- lack of information available to caregivers about them and
their lives (CPCA &
BCHPCA, 1999).
In the last few years, more resources have been developed to help
nurses learn to work with people who inject drugs (See Readings
and Other Resources). Nurses may find the following statements from
caregivers and users helpful as a basic set of principles to guide
their practice.
- The goal is improvement in the person's health and quality
of life - any improvement, no matter how small.
- Relate to the person as one human standing before another human.
- The person is the expert on their life. They know what they
need. Listen to them. It's not about what the caregiver
needs.
- Be flexible and creative. A solution is there if you can be
open to it. Let the person guide and teach you.
- Appropriate, respectful care must never be denied just because
a person uses drugs.
- Communicate, communicate, communicate - with the client
and among caregivers.
(Source: McAmmond, 1998)
Two specific guides for nurses are included as appendices. The
first suggests strategies to guide the nurse in establishing a relationship
of trust with the user and in fostering his or her autonomy (Appendix
2). The second tool is a guide for assessing substance use (Appendix
3). Many nurses are not comfortable discussing substance use with
their clients. This assessment provides examples of questions that
can be used as a basis for discussion. How the questions are used
will vary with the person and his or her situation.
Prevention strategies
Nurses should provide injection drug users with information on
how to reduce their risk of acquiring hepatitis C and transmitting
the infection to others (see Information on Hepatitis C). The primary
risk comes from injection with previously used needles and syringes
contaminated with the blood of another user. People who inject drugs
are at an increased risk when they share other contaminated injecting
equipment, such as spoons, or other drug paraphernalia, such as
straws for snorting drugs.
HCV infection is acquired very rapidly after initiation into injection
drug use. Nurses should include new injection drug users and those
who are thinking about injecting in their prevention strategies
(Health Canada, 1999).
Harm reduction
Some drug users decide to abstain from drugs, and nurses must
support their self-care efforts. However, for others, total abstinence
is not a realistic goal. Nursing interventions should then focus
on encouraging behaviours and substance use practices that reduce
the risk of hepatitis C and other infections such as HIV and hepatitis
B. For example, the drug user could stop sharing equipment or change
from injecting drugs to smoking, snorting or swallowing drugs. Most
strategies to limit transmission of these viruses are based on a
harm reduction model.
Harm reduction is a philosophy and an approach to care that minimizes
harm from substance use and increases the health and quality of
life of the person (McAmmond, 1998). A consistent caring relationship
between the person who uses drugs and the nurse is needed to facilitate
harm reduction. The following principles underlie the successful
implementation of a harm reduction approach.
Harm reduction:
- recognizes the intrinsic value and dignity of all human beings;
- seeks to maximize social and health assistance, disease prevention
and education while minimizing repressive and punitive measures;
- recognizes the right for comprehensive, non-judgmental medical
and social services for the fulfillment of basic needs of all
individuals and communities, including users, their loved ones
and the communities affected by drug use;
- emphasizes the necessity for a comprehensive approach to drug
use that addresses the isolation, survival needs and drug use
of the user;
- does not judge licit and illicit drug use as good or bad, rather
it looks at people's relationship to drugs and emphasizes
the reduction of drug-related harm while encouraging safer drug
use;
- recognizes the competency of users to make choices and changes
in their lives;
- provides options in a non-judgmental, non-coercive way;
- demands that the individuals and communities affected by drug
use be involved in the creation and implementation of harm reduction
interventions;
- recognizes the diversity of users and drug use and the necessity
for outreach and services reflecting every user's needs;
- expects accessible, non-judgmental drug treatment upon demand;
- supports legal syringe exchange, accessible sterile drug using
and safer sex equipment;
- challenges current drug policy and its consequences, such as
misrepresentations of drug users and misinformation about drug
use.
(Source: American Harm Reduction
Coalition cited in McAmmond, 1998)
The harm reduction model can give rise to value conflicts for nurses
who may be concerned they are encouraging behaviours that are not
health promoting. Learning more about harm reduction principles
and discussing their concerns with their nursing colleagues and
other health care providers may be helpful (Gimenez-Lambert et al.,
1996).
Recent research has reported high rates of hepatitis C infection
despite apparent widespread implementation of risk reduction strategies
that appear to have been adequate to maintain a low or lower rate
of HIV. This may be explained by the high percentage of injection
drug users infected with hepatitis C. Another possible explanation
is the high degree of infectivity and transmissibility of HCV per
episode of blood contact compared to HIV. Further research is needed
on how to modify existing programs or develop new ones that target
elimination rather than reduction of HCV-risk related injection
behaviours (Health Canada, 2001).
See Readings and Other Resources for selected sources of further
information on principles of harm reduction, alternatives to injection
and safe injection, other drug-related practices and methadone maintenance.
Some specific harm reduction strategies are found in the section
on hospice palliative care.
Other nursing interventions
This section has focused on interventions for developing relationships
with people who inject drugs and on prevention strategies. In providing
holistic care to injection drug users, nurses will incorporate into
their practice, as appropriate, the broad range of interventions
included in this guide (e.g., counselling, education and support).
Nurses will find that much of the resource material developed to
guide nurses in caring for injection drug users living with HIV/AIDS
is applicable to the care of those with hepatitis C. For more information,
see Appendices 2 and 3.
Hospice palliative care
Hospice palliative care is aimed at relief of suffering and improving
the quality of life for persons who are living with, or dying from,
an advanced illness or are bereaved. This section focuses on palliative
care for injection drug users with hepatitis C and takes a harm
reduction approach7 (See previous
section: Substance Use for information on harm reduction).
Many injection drug users with hepatitis C continue to use drugs.
Nurses who provide palliative care from a harm reduction perspective
respect the choices people make about substance use and help them
to minimize harm to both themselves and those around them.
Many injection drug users with hepatitis C are co-infected with
HIV. From working with people living with HIV/AIDS, we have learned
that pain is usually undertreated in this population and especially
in people who use substances. Undertreatment of pain may stem from
health care providers' confusion about the legitimate use
of controlled substances and fear of contributing to substance abuse
or supporting addictive behaviour.
A comprehensive palliative care assessment for injection drug users
includes a medical and health assessment that incorporates assessment
of pain, a substance use assessment and a psychiatric assessment/history,
if indicated. Understanding the client's substance use helps
the nurse and the person receiving hospice palliative care to manage
pain and other symptoms effectively and safely and to develop a
realistic care plan that includes appropriate management of substance
use and reduction of harm.
In providing palliative care for the person with hepatitis C, the
nurse must be aware of the concept of total pain. Pain is not only
a physical symptom. Total pain combines physical, emotional, social/familial,
economic and spiritual factors. Key principles of pain management
include:
- pain is what the client says hurts;
- medication must be given on a regular basis to maintain good
pain control;
- other methods of pain relief such as relaxation, music therapy
and massage therapy should be considered.
Harm reduction approaches in hospice palliative care could include:
- working toward safer injecting practices (e.g., use of clean
needles, sterile procedure and vein management; finding safe locations
to use - perhaps in an indoor location where sterile procedure
is more likely and assault or theft less likely than in a back
alley);
- working toward safer forms of use (e.g., smoking or snorting
rather than injecting);
- use of drugs that are less physically harmful, less likely
to result in disruptive or non-adaptive behaviour; and/or reduced
levels and frequency of use;
- arranging safer, more stable housing and access to better nutrition,
if the person is not already in a palliative care residential
setting;
- ensuring the person is receiving all forms of income support
for which he or she is eligible;
- linking the person with basic health care, as well as to specialized
HCV care and other health and social services they might need;
- prescribing medications such as Methadone to replae other substances
that may be associated with a greater risk of harm;
- working to help the person develop or strengthen their social
support networks and their involvement in social, recreational
or spiritual activities. Support groups (e.g., user groups, hepatitis
C and HIV support groups) may be a useful option.
(Adapted from McAmmond, 1998)
Perinatal care
Women with hepatitis C do not need to avoid becoming pregnant,
unless they are on antiviral therapy or such therapy is planned.8
However, in preconception discussions, nurses should inform women
there is a risk of transmitting the infection to their babies. The
risk of vertical transmission (mother to baby) is approximately
7.9 per cent. The risk increases up to 60 per cent if women are
co-infected with HIV. Universal screening for hepatitis C before
or during pregnancy is not currently recommended in Canada; however,
women who are at risk for HCV infection should be offered testing.
Nurses should counsel women with hepatitis C who are taking ribavirin
therapy not to become pregnant because ribavirin is a known teratogenic
agent. The safety of interferon in pregnancy is uncertain. The partner
of a male under ribavirin should receive the same counselling.
There are currently no documented measures for reducing transmission
of HCV from mother to child. Nurses can counsel women about risk
reduction including abstinence from alcohol, immunization against
hepatitis A and B and, in the case of women who inject drugs, specific
harm reduction strategies.
Women with hepatitis C and their fetuses are at no greater risk
for obstetric or perinatal complications that other women. For most
women, pregnancy does not appear to affect the course of their HCV
infection.
There is no conclusive evidence of a relationship between transmission
of the virus to the baby and mode of delivery. Women with hepatitis
C can deliver vaginally unless there are obstetrical reasons for
a cesarean delivery. Nurses need to observe standard precautions
during delivery. Neither the mother nor the infant has to be placed
in isolation.
Because of passive transfer of HCV antibodies, all infants of mothers
with HCV will test positive for HCV at birth. Infants who are not
infected with HCV should have cleared these antibodies by 12 to
15 months. Infants should be seen by a physician at three and six
months, at which time they may be tested for HCV RNA; otherwise,
testing should be done at 12 months. A negative result may help
relieve parents' anxiety. If the results are positive, children
should be referred to a specialist who will assess them for the
presence of chronic liver disease. Hepatitis C seems to be mild
in children; however, some children develop liver fibrosis rapidly
over the years. More research is needed on the possible progression
of the disease as children grow older.
Some researchers have detected HCV RNA and anti-HCV antibodies
in colostrum and breast milk. However, to date no cases of transmission
of the virus through breastfeeding have been documented. Women with
hepatitis C can breastfeed their babies. If their nipples are cracked
or bleeding, they should suspend breastfeeding until the nipples
are healed. Nurses can help women with breastfeeding techniques
to prevent cracked or bleeding nipples.
Heath care workers
Nurses and other health care workers are at risk for occupational
exposure to HCV; however, they do not need to be screened routinely
for hepatitis C.9
Nurses must familiarize themselves with and adopt preventive strategies.
The primary means of preventing transmission through occupational
exposure is to follow infection control precautions that assume
that the blood and other body fluids from all clients are potentially
infected. These precautions include: routinely using barriers such
as gloves and/or goggles when contact with blood or body fluids
is expected; immediately washing hands and other skin surfaces that
have come in contact with blood or body fluids; and carefully handling
and disposing of sharp instruments.
Nurses need to be aware of current recommendations for the management
and follow- up of health care workers who have had a potential occupational
exposure to HCV. Health Canada (1997a) has published recommendations
for: immediate post-exposure activities, evaluating a significant
exposure, counselling health care workers following a significant
exposure, testing the source and the health care workers after informed
consent, post-exposure prophylaxis for the health care workers and
post-exposure counselling recommendations (see Reading and Other
Resources). At the present time, there is no effective post-exposure
prophylaxis against HCV.
There is much controversy about whether health care workers infected
with hepatitis C should continue working. There is no legal restriction
to prevent a nurse with hepatitis C infection from working in nursing
in Canada. There may be modifications to work practices or work
restrictions for health care workers with significant dermatitis
and for health care workers who perform exposure-prone procedures
and are infected with HCV (Health Canada, 2002).
There have been anecdotal reports suggesting that nurses with hepatitis
C, like their colleagues with HIV, may encounter difficulty with
employers who are aware of their HCV-positive status. Nurses may
need to access legal counsel to assess the implications for protection
of confidentiality and continuation of work.
In general, nurses with hepatitis C are not required to disclose
their HCV-positive status to their patients or co-workers. However,
they have a personal and ethical responsibility not to endanger
their clients. In exercising their responsibility, nurses should:
- properly use routine practices for preventing transmission
of infection in health care settings and make use of available
infection control technology;
- seek advice on assessing the level of risk of transmission
related to exposure prone procedures and determine whether they
can continue to participate in this aspect of patient care;
- report a potential exposure to a patient to ensure the patient
receives the proper follow-up care;
- agree to voluntary HCV testing if they engage in high-risk
behaviours.
For more details, consult Readings and Other Resources under occupational
exposure and prevention/health care worker.
Nurses are encouraged to refer to CNA's Code of Ethics
for Registered Nurses (1997), which is scheduled for revision
in 2002, for guidance on ethical issues.
Hepatitis C in federal correctional facilities
Although the rate of HCV in all Canadian correctional settings
is unknown, hepatitis C infection is a major concern. One study
states that 30 to 40 per cent of federal offenders have hepatitis
C. This represents a dramatic rise over the past decade (McVie,
2001). Almost 70 per cent of offenders admitted to federal custody
have some level of substance abuse problem requiring intervention.
Problems of substance abuse are disproportionately represented among
aboriginal and female offenders.
Prison inmates are known to engage in high risk behaviours. Injection
drug use and sexual activity are not uncommon in prisons.
Nurses who work in correctional settings face many of the same
issues as those working in community clinical settings. A protocol
has been developed to manage the care of HCV-positive inmates, Technical
Annex on the Management and Treatment of Hepatitis C Virus in Correctional
Service of Canada. The annex is currently undergoing revision
with more consideration being given to follow-up in the community
and community involvement in education within the institutions.
Harm reduction programs that have been implemented in federal
prisons include:
- a national methadone treatment program;
- provision of condoms, lubricants, dental dams and bleach;
- educational programming about infectious diseases and high
risk behaviours awareness (e.g., Reception Awareness Program,
Peer Education Counselling, Choosing
Health in Prison);
- preparation and distribution of educational pamphlets (Hepatitis
C - Inside the Walls and Going Home Healthy) and comic
books (From Darkness to Light for women offenders and Red
Alert for male offenders).
Transplantation
Hepatitis C is the most common reason for liver transplantation
in Canada.10 Fortunately, only a small
number of people with hepatitis C develop liver disease that is
severe enough to require transplantation. A main indication for
liver transplant is the onset of liver failure. The signs of liver
failure may include ascites, jaundice, mental confusion and bleeding
from the rupture of esophageal varices.
The overall success rate of the surgery is high; however, in almost
all cases, the transplanted liver becomes infected with hepatitis
C. The transplanted liver can continue to function well for many
years even if infected with hepatitis C, thereby extending the person's
life. Monotherapy with interferon may not work, and the combination
with ribavirin is generally poorly tolerated.
People being considered for transplantation need to go through
an extensive screening program. Nurses can support people facing
this process by providing them with information and assisting them
in making decisions about treatment options. See Reading and Other
Resources, Transplantation.
Mental health issues
At the present time, little is known about the extent to which
people infected with hepatitis C experience mental health problems
or how serious their symptoms are. We also do not know how effectively
existing services are meeting their unique needs.11
Persons diagnosed with HCV experience a range of emotions including
shock, fear, denial, confusion, shame, regret, blame, suicidal ideation,
acute anxiety and anger. Uncertainty about the progression of symptoms
and the disease may also cause emotional distress. Nurses can help
people with hepatitis C and their families develop effective coping
strategies and support networks.
Injection drug use and high-risk sexual behaviour with multiple
partners are common in the mental health community. As part of harm
reduction planning, nurses need to work with the mental health community
to provide services and education toward prevention. This would
include needle exchange programs, providing condoms, risk reduction
for people living on the street and for those in psychiatric facilities,
community living facilities, halfway houses, etc.
People with a history of psychological instability or underlying
psychiatric issues may be at risk for problems associated with interferon
such as severe depression, suicidal ideation, delirium and manic
depression. Nurses should counsel their clients with a history of
psychiatric problems about the possibility of adverse psychiatric
reactions and monitor their responses to the medication. People
co-infected with HIV may experience increased emotional stress and
may require more intensive mental health support.
Hemodialysis
The rate of HCV infection in people on long-term dialysis is estimated
at 20 to 50 per cent in North America.12
People on chronic dialysis are thought to have an increased risk
of acquiring HCV infection from blood products transfusion or nosocomial
(hospital-acquired) transmission in hemodialysis units. As the length
of time people spend on dialysis increases, the likelihood of HCV
infection increases with an estimated risk of 10 per cent per year.
The risk of acquiring HCV infection on long-term hemodialysis is
expected to decrease because of the screening of blood products
for HCV. The risk of acquiring HCV through nosocomial transmission
(for example, failure to use routine precautions) is not clear.
The current standard of treatment using interferon and ribavirin
is not indicated for people on long-term hemodialysis. Because ribavirin
causes hemolysis that does not get cleared in hemodialysis, there
will be a build-up of hemolysis. Therapy with inter- feron alone
is possible but is poorly tolerated by people receiving hemodialysis.
Dose reduction is frequently required.
Nurses should counsel people on hemodialysis (as with all patients
with impaired renal function) to avoid non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs, including aspirin, and benzodiazepine type of sedatives such
as lorazepam and diazepam, which may promote encephalopathy in an
individual with cirrhosis.
To reduce nosocomial transmission of HCV, nurses need to be familiar
with the policies and procedures for hemodialysis units. See Readings
and Other Resources, Hemodialysis for more information.
Hemophilia
Hemophilia refers to two X - linked genetic disorders characterized
by absence of one of two important clotting proteins, factor VIII
(hemophilia A) or factor IX (hemophilia B). Normal clotting involves
a complex series of reactions that start as soon as bleeding occurs.
Where there is an absence or deficiency of either factor VIII clotting
protein or factor IX clotting protein, clotting is delayed. Bleeding
may continue until treatment is administered. Treatment consists
of replacing the missing protein in the form of clotting factor
concentrates. Some of these concentrates are now produced by genetic
engineering, with albumin added to some of the factor VIII concentrates
for stabilization of the factor VIII protein. No human material
is used in the manufacturing of Factor IX concentrates.
Prior to 1994, all concentrates were made from human plasma, and
before screening for hepatitis C was introduced in July of 1990,
the concentrates were heavily contaminated with the hepatitis C
virus. The rate of hepatitis C infection in patients with hemophilia
who were treated with concentrates prior to 1990 is approximately
95 per cent. The rate is less in patients treated with whole plasma
and cryoprecipitate. All patients treated with any blood component
prior to 1990 should be tested for hepatitis C. Testing for HCV-RNA
done in the past three years shows that approximately 15 per cent
of patients have spontaneously cleared the virus.
Monitoring of people with hemophilia who have hepatitis C is essential.
In this way, they will have access to timely therapeutic and prophylactic
measures to delay or prevent progression of hepatitis and its complications.
Safety is a key issue for patients with hemophilia. Treatments with
the potential to exacerbate bleeding or procedures that may cause
bleeding must always be assessed very carefully as to the risk versus
the benefit for the patient. The patient's medical records
should carry a prominent sign stating that he/she has a bleeding
disorder.
There is much controversy in the hemophilia population about the
need and risk of a liver biopsy. Most hepatologists will insist
on a liver biopsy before suggesting treatment. Many patients who
have chosen to have the liver biopsy done have been reassured that
where there is minimal damage to their liver they have a choice
of waiting for treatment at a later time. Treatment modalities are
changing and the hope is for a treatment with few side effects.
Where the biopsy shows fibrosis and treatment is more urgent, patients
are more prepared to embark on a course of treatment knowing that
they have a good chance of clearing the virus for life.
Treatment with interferon and ribavirin does not provoke bleeding,
but anemia secondary to blood loss may be exacerbated, as ribavirin
itself is associated with development of anemia. The muscle pain
associated with interferon can be misconstrued for a bleed, or alternatively,
a bleed may be misconstrued as a side effect of the drug. Muscle
weakness can develop as a result of inactivity due to fatigue. This
may place the patient at risk for falls which may cause bleeding.
It is vital that care providers of people with hemophilia are informed
when they start treatment and that good communication between caregivers
continues throughout the course of treatment.
Children with hemophilia who were born after 1991 and who have
been treated with factor concentrate should not be infected with
hepatitis C. Children treated prior to 1990 for bleeding episodes
with factor concentrate should be tested for hepatitis C.
Treatment for hepatitis C in children is quite controversial and
very little information appears in the literature. As with all patients,
monitoring of liver function is vital and treatment must be tailored
to each child. The psychosocial care of these young people also
requires attention. Parents and siblings will need information and
reassurance about the child's condition. There may be issues
in the school with teachers and other pupils. Information should
be sought from the child's hemophilia treatment team, always
respecting the right of the child to confidentiality.
There are 26 comprehensive hemophilia programs in Canada. The Canadian
Hemophilia Society (CHS) is an excellent source of information and
provides support for people with hemophilia. See Readings and Other
Resources for more information.
The nursing care and symptom management discussed in the guide
pertain to the hemophilia population with special precautions needed
for situations where bleeding is a risk. For further information
on care of people with hemophilia, see Appendix 4.
Aboriginal Population
The fact that in the majority of instances the sharing of injection
drug paraphernalia transmits HCV, accounting for approximately 70
per cent of the 240,000 estimated cases in Canada, is significant.
This is especially interesting in light of the fact that HIV infection
by Injection Drug Use (IDU) is rising in the Aboriginal population.
Before 1989, 6.3 per cent of HIV infection was linked to IDU increasing
to 25.4 per cent from 1989-93 and to 51.2 per cent during 1994-98
(Health Canada, 1999). In addition, AIDS is more prevalent in the
younger Aboriginal population - 29.3 per cent are less than
30 years of age, compared to 17.6 per cent of cases in the mainstream
population under 30 years. As well, AIDS is found more frequently
in the entire female population, with 17.5 per cent of Aboriginal
cases being female, compared to 6.4 per cent female cases in the
non-Aboriginal, mainstream population (Health Canada, 1999).
According to recent HIV/AIDS data (1993-98) obtained from B.C.,
Alberta and Saskatchewan, Aboriginal people make up 15 per cent,
26 per cent and 30 per cent, respectively, of the newly diagnosed
positive cases and, most notably, IDU and heterosexual behaviours
were the most commonly identified risk factors (Health Canada, 1999).
The proportion of new HIV-positive tests between IDU and heterosexual
exposure differ significantly and were rated as follows: 73 per
cent and 13 per cent for B.C.; 60 per cent and 13 per cent for Alberta
and 83 per cent and 8 per cent in Saskatchewan, with infection as
a result of IDU ranking considerably higher in all three provinces
(Health Canada, 1999).
The rates of HCV infection among Aboriginal populations are far
greater than for the non-Aboriginal population in general. According
to Health Canada, the prevalence of HCV among Canada's Aboriginal
peoples is seven times higher than the rate for non- Aboriginal
Canadian-born people.
To begin to meet the needs of Aboriginal persons infected with
hepatitis C, nurses should be familiar with aboriginal specific
aspects such as culture, etc.
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VI GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Acute hepatitis |
Inflammation of the liver that resolves within
six months of the onset |
ALT |
Alanine aminotransferase, a liver enzyme |
Antibody |
Proteins produced by the body in response to new proteins
(antigens) that the body has not seen previously |
Antigen |
A protein, often part of a virus, recognized by the body
as being new |
Anti-HCV |
Antibody to HCV that develops in response to HCV infection |
Chronic HCV |
Persistent infection with HCV, identified by HCV
RNA 6 months after acute infection |
Cirrhosis |
Extensive scarring of the liver, due to viral infections,
alcohol abuse, medications etc. |
Decompensated liver disease |
Liver that has reached a stage where the liver disease
can no longer function normally |
EIA |
Enzyme immunoassay |
Fibrosis |
Scarring of the liver, less severe than cirrhosis |
HBV |
Hepatitis B virus |
HCC |
Hepatocellular carcinoma, or liver cancer |
HCV |
Hepatitis C virus |
HCV-RNA |
The genetic material of the virus that coordinates viral
reproduction and protein synthesis |
HIV |
Human immunodeficiency virus |
IDU |
Injection drug user |
Incidence |
The rate of occurrence of new infections in a population
over a given period of time |
Mortality |
Death rate |
MSM |
Men who have sex with men |
NAT |
Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (diagnostic test) |
Pegylation |
Protection or stabilization of a protein so that it disintegrates
more slowly than normal; in this context, applies to new generation
of interferon |
Prevalence |
The number of cases present in a population at a given
time |
Qualitative RT-PCR for HCV RNA |
Test to identify HCV RNA by amplification of viral genetic
sequences |
Qualitative assays for HCV RNA |
Test to identify HCV RNA viral load or concentration by
amplification of viral genetic sequences |
RIBA TM |
Recombinant immunoblot assay |
RNA |
Ribonucleic acid |
RT-PCR |
Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction |
Supplemental anti-HCV test |
Additional test (e.g., RIBA) used to identify positive
anti-HCV result obtained by EIA |
Sustained responder |
Person who is HCV-RNA-negative six months after completion
of treatment |
Vertical transmission |
Transmission of an infection from mother to child at birth |
Viral load |
The amount of virus present |
VII READINGS AND OTHER RESOURCES
Hepatitis C
Health Canada
Hepatitis C: Get the facts
Hepatitis C Division 2nd Floor, 400 Cooper Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9
Postal Locator 4602A
Fax: (613) 941-9813
E-mail: hepc@hc-sc.gc.ca
Web site: www.healthcanada.ca/hepc
Centers for Disease Control (US)
Hepatitis C: What clinicians and other health care professionals
need to know, an on-line course offered by the Centers for Disease
Control at www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/c_training/edu
Canadian Liver Foundation
2235 Sheppard Avenue East, Suite 1500
Toronto, ON M2J 5B5
Tel: 1-800-563-5483
Web site: www.liver.ca
Canadian Liver Foundation. (2000). Hepatitis C: Question and
answer manual.
Canadian Association for Study of the Liver. (2001). The Canadian
consensus conference on the management of viral hepatitis.
Available at: www.lhsc.on.ca/casl/cont.htm
Canadian Association for the Study of the Liver. (2000). Management
of viral hepatitis: Recommended guidelines for physicians.
Available at: www.lhsc.on.ca/casl
Di Bisceglie, A. M., McHutchinson, J., & Rice, C. (2002).
New therapeutic strategies for hepatitis C. Hepatology,
35(1), 224-231.
Current Issues in the Management of Viral Hepatitis. (2000). Canadian
Journal of Gastro-enterology, 14(Supplement B).
Health Canada. (2000). Profile of hepatitis C and injection
drug use in Canada. Discussion paper. Available at: www.hc-sc.gc.ca
Hepatitis C: Canadian Perspectives. (2000). Canadian Journal
of Public Health, 91(Supplement 1).
Proceedings of the First Canadian Conference on Hepatitis C.
(2001). Available at: http://www.hepc1conf.ca
Compensation
Hepatitis C Claims Centre
PO Box 2370
Station D
Ottawa, ON K1P 5W5
Tel: 1-877-434-0944
Fax: (613) 569-1763
E-mail: www.hepc8690.ca
Manitoba
MHCAP
Manitoba Health
4036 - 300 Carlton Street
Winnipeg, MB R3B 3M9
In Winnipeg: (204) 788-6339
Toll-Free: 1-866-357-0196
Ontario
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
Ontario Hepatitis C Assistance Plan (OHCAP) c/o 77 Wellesley Street
West
Toronto, ON M7A 1N3
Toll free: 1-877-222-4977
Quebec
For information:
In Québec City: (418) 646-4636
In Montréal: (514) 864-3411
Elsewhere in Quebec: 1-800-561-9749
The Nurse and the Context of Care
Gimenez-Lambert, A., L'Homme, C., Johnson, A. S., &
Flannery, J. S. (Eds.). (1996). A comprehensive guide for the
care of persons with HIV disease, Module 3: Nursing care. Toronto:
Canadian Association of Nurses in AIDS Care.
Young, L. E., & Hayes, V. (Eds.). (2002). Transforming
health promotion practice: Concepts, issues, and applications.
Philadelphia: F. A. Davis.
Management of Symptoms of Hepatitis C and Side Effects of Drug
Treatment
Schering Canada Inc. (2000). Knowledge is power: Take control
of hepatitis C. Edited by the Canadian Association of Hepatology
Nurses. Available at: www.hepnet.com/hepc/power.html
Gimenez-Lambert, A., L'Homme, C., Johnson, A. S., & Flannery,
J. S. (Eds.). (1996). A comprehensive guide for the care of
persons with HIV disease, Module 3: Nursing care. Toronto:
Canadian Association of Nurses in AIDS Care.
Heathcote, J., Yim, C., Thai, Q., & Sherker, A. (2001). Hepatitis
C: Everything you need to know. Toronto: Key Porter Books.
Yim, C. K. (2001). Understanding hepatitis C. CANNT Journal,
11(3), 24-32.
Substance Use
Canadian Liver Foundation National Hepatitis C Education Program.
(2000). Hepatitis C: Medical information update. Canadian Journal
of Public Health, 91(Supplement 1), S4-S9.
Canadian Palliative Care Association HIV/AIDS Advisory Committee.
(2001). Meeting the challenge: Part II: Pain and symptom management
for injection drug users living with HIV/AIDS. Ottawa: Canadian
Palliative Care Association.
Canadian Palliative Care Association HIV/AIDS Advisory Committee
and British Columbia Hospice Palliative Care Association. (1999).
Meeting the challenge: An introduction to palliative care for
injection drug users living with HIV/AIDS. Ottawa: Canadian
Palliative Care Association.
Ferris, F. D., Flannery, J. S., McNeal, H. B., Morissette, M. R.,
Cameron, R., & Bally, G. A. (Eds.). (1995). A comprehensive
guide for the care of persons with HIV disease. Module 4: Palliative
care. Toronto: Mount Sinai Hospital and Casey House Hospice.
McAmmond, D. (1998). Meeting the challenge: Palliative care
for injection drug users living with HIV/AIDS, A resource tool for
caregivers. Vancouver: St. James Community Service Society.
Paquin, M-J., Nielsen, D. & Wheeler, V. (2001). Module 7: Women,
HIV and substance use. In M-J. Paquin et al. (Eds.), Creating
a healthy community for women living with HIV: Training and resource
manual for care providers. Calgary: Calgary Regional Health
Authority.
Hospice palliative care
Canadian Palliative Care Association HIV/AIDS Advisory Committee.
(2001). Meeting the challenge: Part II: Pain and symptom management
for injection drug users living with HIV/AIDS. Ottawa: Canadian
Palliative Care Association.
Canadian Palliative Care Association HIV/AIDS Advisory Committee
and British Columbia Hospice Palliative Care Association. (1999).
Meeting the challenge: An introduction to palliative care for
injection drug users living with HIV/AIDS. Ottawa: Canadian
Palliative Care Association.
Ferris, F. D., Flannery, J. S., McNeal, H. B., Morissette M. R.,
Cameron, R., & Bally, G. A. (Eds.). (1995). A comprehensive
guide for the care of persons with HIV disease. Module 4: Palliative
care. Toronto: Mount Sinai Hospital and Casey House Hospice.
McAmmond, D. (1998). Meeting the challenge: Palliative care
for injection drug users living with HIV/AIDS: A resource tool for
caregivers. Vancouver: St. James Community Service Society.
Paquin, M-J, Nielsen, D., & Wheeler, V. (2001). Module 7: Women,
HIV and substance use. In M-J. Paquin et al. (Eds.), Creating
a healthy community for women living with HIV : Training and resource
manual for care providers. Calgary: Calgary Regional Health
Authority.
Harm reduction
Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse
75 Albert Street, Suite 300
Ottawa, ON K1P 5E7
Tel: (613) 235-4048
Fax: (613) 235-8101
Web site: www.ccsa.ca
Canadian Harm Reduction Coalition
666 Spadina Avenue, Suite 1904
Toronto, ON M5S 2H8
Tel : (416) 928-0279 or 1-800-728-1293
Fax : (416) 966-9512
Web site: www.canadianharmreduction.com
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
33 Russell Street
Toronto, ON M5S 2S1
Tel : (416) 535-8501
Web site: www.camh.net
Perinatal
Boucher, M. & Gruslin, A. (2000). The reproductive care of
women living with hepatitis C infection. Journal of the Society
of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 96, 5-29.
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(2000). Hepatitis C: Medical information update. Canadian Journal
of Public Health, 91(Supplement 1): S4-S9.
Centers for Disease Control. What clinicians and other health
professionals need to know. On-line Course No. WB 3037-3 www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/c_training/edu
Occupational exposure and prevention/health care workers
Canadian Nurses Association. (2002). Code of ethics for registered
nurses. Ottawa: Author.
Canadian Nurses Association.(2000). Policy Statement: Bloodborne
Pathogens. Ottawa: Author.
Health Canada. (1997a). An integrated protocol to manage health
care workers exposed to bloodborne pathogens. Canada Communicable
Disease Report,13 Supplement
23S2, 1-16.
Health Canada. (1997b). Preventing the transmission of bloodborne
pathogens in health care and public services settings. Canada
Communicable Disease Report, Supplement 23S3.
Health Canada. (1998a). Infection control guidelines: hand washing,
cleaning, disinfection and sterilization in health care. Canada
Communicable Disease Report, Supplement 24S8, 1-55.
Health Canada. (1998b). Proceedings of the consensus conference
on infected health care workers: Risks for transmission of bloodborne
pathogens. Canada Communicable Disease Report, Supplement
24S4.
Health Canada. (1999a). Hepatitis C - Prevention and control:
A public health consensus. Canada Communicable Disease Report,
Supplement 25S2, 1-23.
Health Canada. (1999b). Infection prevention and control practices
for personal services: Tattooing, ear/body piercing, and electrolysis.
Canada Communicable Disease Report, Supplement 25S3.
Health Canada. (1999c). Routine practices and additional precautions
for preventing the transmission of infection in health care: Revision
of isolation and precaution techniques. Canada Communicable
Disease Report, Supplement 25S4, 1-142.
Health Canada. (2002). Prevention and control of occupational
infections in health care. Canada Communicable Disease Report,
Supplement 28S1.
Nguyen, M., Paton, S., Villeneuve, P. and the Canadian Needle Stick
Surveillance Network. (2001). Update: Surveillance of health care
workers exposed to blood/bodily fluids and bloodborne pathogens:
1 April 2000 to 31 March 2001. Canada Communicable Disease Report,
27-24, 201-212.
Transplantation
Canadian Association for Study of the Liver. (2001). The Canadian
consensus conference on the management of viral hepatitis. Available
at: www.lhsc.on.ca/casl/cont.htm
Mental health issues
Rowe, W., Rowe, J., & Malowaniec, L. (2000). Hepatitis C:
Mental health issues. Canadian Journal of Public Health,
91(Supplement 1): S42-S44.
Hemodialysis
Centers for Disease Control. (2001). Recommendations for preventing
transmission of infections among chronic hemodialysis patients.
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), 50, NoRR-05.
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VIII REFERENCES
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224-231.
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pharmacists told: Medicinal marijuana should be handled like any
other drug, BC expert says. The
Vancouver Sun, p. A1.
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guide for the care of persons with HIV disease. Module 4: Palliative
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Flannery, J. S. (Eds.). (1996). A comprehensive guide for
the care of persons with HIV disease. Module 3. Nursing care.
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Disease Report,14 Supplement
23S2, 1-16.
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pathogens in health care and public services settings. Canada
Communicable Disease Report, Supplement 23S3.
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cleaning, disinfection and sterilization in health care. Canada
Communicable Disease Report, Supplement 24S8, 1-55.
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on infected health care workers: Risks for transmission of bloodborne
pathogens. Canada Communicable Disease Report, Supplement
24S4.
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purposes. Retrieved October 14, 1999 from: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hecs-sesc/ocma/pdf/marijuana_regulations.pdf
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A public health consensus. Canada Communicable Disease Report,
Supplement 25S2, 1-23.
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for personal services: Tattooing, ear/body piercing, and electrolysis.
Canada Communicable Disease Report, Supplement, 25S3.
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for preventing the transmission of infection in health care: Revision
of isolation and precaution techniques. Canada Communicable
Disease Report, Supplement 25S4, 1-142.
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drug use in Canada: Discussion paper. Ottawa: Author.
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19, 2001 from
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pdf/regulations/marihuana_06-13-01.pdf
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Hepatitis C: Everything you need to know. Toronto: Key
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C infection among injection drug users in Canada. Canada Communicable
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for injection drug users living with HIV/AIDS: A resource tool
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of the First Canadian Conference on Hepatitis C. Retreived
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htmlen/fr_1.htm
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text/pblct/forum/v13n3/index_e.shtml
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IX APPENDICES
Appendix 1: Antiviral Therapy for Chronic Hepatitis
C
Drug |
Brand name |
Suggested dose |
Possible result |
1. Current licensed antiviral therapy
for chronic hepatitis C |
Interferon alfa-2b + ribavirin |
Rebetron |
Interferon alfa-2b:
3 million units
3x weekly SC for 24-48 weeks
Ribavirin:
1000-1200 mg/day
PO for 24-48 weeks |
Sustained response in 41% |
Peginterferon alfa-2a + ribavirin |
Pegetron |
Peginterferon alfa-2b:
1.5 mcg/kg body weight once weekly for 48 weeks
Ribavirin:
800-1200mg/day |
Sustained response in 61% |
Peginterferon alfa-2b monotherapy in the presence of contra-indications
for ribavirin |
PEG-Intron |
Body-weight dependent, based on
1.0 mcg/kg body weight once weekly for 48 weeks |
Sustained response in 25% |
2. Other |
Peginterferon alfa-2b + ribavirin |
Will become available early 2003 |
Note: Therapies will change as medical research
advances.
Source: Colina Yim (June 3,
2002).
Appendix 2: Intervention Strategies for Establishing
Trust and Autonomy with People Living With Substance Use
- Explain purpose of intervention
- focus on the health determinants of clients
- Explain confidentiality
- obtain consent
- discuss all possible disclosures
- Remove stigma associated with hepatitis C infection
- don't stigmatize - don't sanitize e.g.,
"anybody can get hepatitis C and everyone is important"
- Establish credibility
- never distort or withhold information
- Maintain a non-judgmental attitude
- avoid "should"
- respect differences in values and risk tolerance
- Encourage client participation
- ask open-ended questions
- teach self-assessment
- provide choices and options
- encourage the client to set personally relevant goals
- Use non-threatening/non-invasive approaches
- avoid overly technical or sensational language
- respect personal and group boundaries
- pay attention to how the word "you" is used
- do not require self-disclosure
- Be supportive
- avoid aggressive confrontation
- respect the defense strategies used by the person
- Be sensitive to cultural differences
- consider ethnic background, age, gender, sexual orientation,
socioeconomic status, and regional identification
- consider beliefs and values about risk-taking, decision
making and personal control
- consider attitudes towards sexuality, pregnancy, childbirth,
parenting and other relevant issues
- Share responsibility
- for defining the problem
- for identifying relevant options
- for decision making and planning
Adapted from: Meijer, L. (1990). AIDS curriculum for substance
abuse counsellors. Seattle, WA: University of Washington AIDS
Education and Training Center Program, H15-H19.
Appendix 3: Substance Use Assessment
Current Use:
What drugs have you been using in the last few days and weeks?
How much?
How (e.g., smoking, fixing, injection sites, snorting, popping,
etc.)?
How long at the current level of use?
When are you most likely to use?
What do you feel like when you use?
How does it help you?
What problems does it cause?
Previous Use:
What was your use like before that (i.e., before the above period)?
If use has changed lately, why is that?
Drug Treatment:
What's the longest you've gone without using?
How did you accomplish it?
Any detox attempts? Tell me about it.
Any treatment programs? If answer is yes: Which ones? How did it
work for you?
Social Situation:
Are you in a relationship?
Does your partner use?
Are you in touch with your family?
Do your friends use?
Do you have friends who don't use?
Have you been involved with the law? Jail time?
What are the biggest hassles right now in your life?
What are the good parts of your life?
(Source: McAmmond, 1998, p.19)
Appendix 4: Hemophilia and Hepatitis C: Further
Information
Invasive Procedures (e.g., liver biopsy)
Prior to all invasive procedures patients should have a complete
blood count (CBC), an international normalized ratio (PT INR) and
an activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), as well as their
Factor VIII or Factor IX level. Where it is not practical to get
a factor level, the APTT may be used to monitor the response to
the infused factor concentrate VIII or IX.
Studies show that a liver biopsy can be safely done by the transjugular
route in patients who have a good response to factor VIII or factor
IX concentrate. Detailed instructions from a hematologist knowledgeable
in the care of patients with hemophilia must be obtained well ahead
of a scheduled biopsy. The hemophilia nurse or other designated
person will make arrangements for the administration of the factor
concentrate. Careful monitoring and specific written guidelines
are given to the patient by the nurse who is experienced in hemophilia
care.
Radiologists, hepatologists or gastroenterologists planning a liver
biopsy for a patient with hemophilia must consult with the patient's
hematologist for the specific guidelines. Where a patient has an
inhibitor to the factor concentrate, careful consideration must
be given to the absolute benefit of doing a liver biopsy.
An inhibitor is an antibody formed against the deficient clotting
protein that is used to treat bleeding episodes in patients with
hemophilia. This complication of treatment occurs in approximately
25 per cent of treated patients with hemophilia A and approximately
2 per cent of patients with hemophilia B. This antibody will inhibit
the therapeutic effect of the factor clotting concentrate. There
are alternative treatments, but their efficacy is less predictable
than is specific replacement therapy.
Factor concentrate is given one hour prior to the procedure (the
half-life of factor VIII is 8 to 12 hours, and of factor IX is 12
to 16 hours). The level of factor VIII or IX should be raised to
75-100 per cent of normal. Follow up treatment is administered at
12 hours post-procedure and daily for a further three days. Most
patients self treat, but in the case of patients who are not trained
to self infuse, arrangements will be made for the follow up treatment
to be done in the community or at the hospital clinic. Patients
are advised to report any sign of bleeding, abdominal pain, nausea
or vomiting.
Factor concentrate replacement will also be necessary prior to
invasive procedures such as paracentesis, TIPS insertion, etc.
Esophageal varices
The development of esophageal varices is a serious complication
of liver disease. It is important to make the diagnosis before bleeding
occurs. Hemophilia nurses spend a lot of time with their patients
discussing the importance of careful monitoring of blood testing
results and the importance of checking for complications of hepatitis
C such as esophageal varices.
Factor concentrate, raising the level of the missing clotting
protein to at least 50 per cent of normal should be given prior
to the oesophagogastroduodenoscopy (OGD). One dose is usually sufficient
for the procedure. If varices are present, the patient is at risk
for bleeding so it will be necessary for the patient to discuss
replacement therapy on a regular basis as a prophylaxis. If banding
is done, the hematologist should be notified. Patients will need
to take a proton pump inhibitor to prevent bleeding when the scarring
occurs.
Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis of the liver with all its attendant complications raises
warning flags for this group of patients. As the PT and INR increase,
it will be important to know which other clotting factor proteins
are being affected. Bleeding may occur due to decreased levels of
other clotting proteins, as well as decreased platelet count as
the patients' condition deteriorates. It may be necessary
to maintain the patient on regular prophylaxis, replacing the missing
clotting protein on a regular basis. It will be important for the
care providers to consult with the hemophilia treatment team.
Immunization
All patients in hemophilia programs who were born after 1983 should
have been vaccinated against hepatitis B. Patients treated before
that time have most likely been exposed to hepatitis B through the
concentrates and are immune for life, except in about three per
cent of patients who remain carriers of the virus. More recently,
nurses and physicians have advised all patients to be vaccinated
against hepatitis A. There have been reports of serious complications
with hepatitis A in the presence of hepatitis C
Injections
When administering IM injection to patients with hemophilia, a
25 gauge 1" needle should be used, no larger. The preferred
site is the deltoid region where good pressure can be maintained
for five to seven minutes. With this technique, bleeding should
not occur and factor concentrate is generally not needed.
Where the patient has marked thrombocytopenia (less that 50,000
platelets), and severe hemophilia (<0.02 u/ml of the clotting
protein), it may be necessary to replace the missing clotting protein
to a level of 30 per cent to prevent a muscle hematoma. The hepatitis
A vaccination has a 25 gauge 1" needle attached to the pre-mixed
solution; this is the ideal size. This same technique can be used
for all other vaccinations. Injections by the subcutaneous route
using a 25 gauge 7/8" can be safely given, again applying pressure
for five minutes.
The following information on safety features can be copied and
added to the patient's chart:
THIS PATIENT HAS A BLEEDING DISORDER. PLEASE:
- INTRAMUSCULAR INJECTIONS TO BE GIVEN USING ONLY A 25 GAUGE
1" NEEDLE INTO THE DELTOID REGION. PRESSURE TO BE MAINTAINED
FOR 5 TO 7 MINUTES.
- VENIPUNCTURE TO BE PERFORMED USING A 23 GAUGE BUTTER FLY. APPLY
DIRECT PRESSURE TO THE SITE.
- NO ARTERIAL BLOOD GASES
- NO ASPIRIN CONTAINING DRUGS
- NO INVASIVE PROCEDURES WITHOUT FIRST CONSULTING THE HEMATOLOGIST
Appendix 5: Marijuana for Medical Purposes:
Information at a Glance for Palliative Home Care Practitioners
Marie-Josée Paquin, RN, B.Sc.,
Clinical Nurse Specialist in Palliative Care
July 30, 2001
Introduction to the new Health Canada Regulations
The new Health Canada Marihuana15
Medical Access Regulations (Health Canada (2001) are effective July
30, 2001. The regulatory approach centres on the process of providing
access to marijuana for medical purposes while it is being researched
as a potential medicine. Marijuana still remains an illegal drug
in Canada.
The new regulations contain two main components:
- Authorization to posses
- Licence to produce.
The regulations protect certain patients with chronic or terminal
illnesses against marijuana- related prosecution. Such patients
may apply for permission to grow, possess and use marijuana to relieve
symptoms including pain, nausea and poor appetite (Fayerman, 2001).
This document will focus on how an individual can apply for an
"authorization to posses marijuana for medical purposes."
It includes other relevant information that may guide palliative
home care practitioners in responding to questions from clients.
Authorization to possess
Criteria
- Individuals ordinarily resident in Canada.
- Individuals living with a prognosis of a life span of less
than 12 months; or
- individuals suffering from specific symptoms associated with
some serious medical conditions such as multiple sclerosis, spinal
cord injury or disease, cancer,
HIV infection/AIDS, severe forms of arthritis and epilepsy; or
- individuals who have been advised by two medical specialists
to use marijuana.
Application process for eligible individual (Health Canada 2001)
- Get an application form on the Health Canada web site www.hc-sc.gc.ca
or by calling Health Canada's Office of Cannabis Medical
Access at (613) 954-6540.
- Have the medical declaration section of the form completed by
a medical practitioner (family physician) if living with terminal
illnesses. If not, the medical declaration has to be signed by
one or two specialists.
- Attach two (2) current passport sized photographs certified
by a medical practitioner or a specialist. The photographs will
be used for an identification card to be issued by Health Canada.
No personal medical information will be indicated on the card.
- Mail the application form to Health Canada for approval by the
Minister. Application from individuals with terminal conditions
will be given priority for processing.
Other relevant information
- The physician completing the application form has to indicate
the daily dosage of dried marijuana (in grams), the form and route
of administration recommended and the period for which the use
of marijuana is recommended (Health Canada, 2001).
- The authorization to possess expires 12 months after its date
of issue unless the physician in the application form specifies
a shorter period.
- Hospitals, hospices and correctional institutions have their
own regulations and policies governing the use or access to drugs
for medical use. These will determine whether marijuana may be
used and under what conditions.
- Canada Customs and Revenue Agency Regulations do not permit
an individual to import or export marijuana for medical or any
other purpose. Existing provisions under the Controlled Drugs
and Substances Act continue to apply as before, prohibiting any
person from importing or exporting marijuana. Although individuals
who hold an authorization to possess marijuana may attempt to
take marijuana out of the country, this activity remains illegal.
- Health Canada seeks continuous feedback on the regulations
and medicinal marijuana. A survey form can be completed at the
following address: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/magazine/2000_08/marijuana.htm
What is marijuana?
Marijuana is the common name of Cannabis sativa, a plant that
contains more than 400 chemicals. What is commonly referred to as
marijuana ("grass", "pot", "weed")
in North America is usually made up of crushed cannabis leaves,
flowers and often twigs. Like most plants, marijuana is a variable
and complex mixture of biologically active compounds. THC (delta-9
tetrahydrocannabinol) is the main psychoactive constituent in marijuana.
When marijuana is smoked, THC is absorbed from the lungs into the
bloodstream within minutes (Health Canada, 1999).
What is the potential therapeutic efficacy of marijuana (Health
Canada, 1998)?
Much of the evidence of the potential therapeutic efficacy of smoked
marijuana is anecdotal. Marijuana has been claimed to have the following
beneficial effects:
- Relief of nausea and vomiting associated with cancer and HIV/AIDS
therapies;
- Stimulation of appetite and weight gain in Wasting Syndrome
in AIDS and cancer;
- Relief of muscle pain and spasms in Multiple Sclerosis; and
- Reduction of the frequency of epileptic seizures.
What are the potential health effects of marijuana (Health Canada,
1998)?
The potential health effects associated with the use of marijuana
for medical purposes have not been adequately researched. Listed
below are the main known health effects from smoking marijuana:
- Physical and psychological dependence (Australian Drug Foundation,
1998): there is clinical and epidemiological evidence that some
marijuana users experience dependency. Abrupt termination of marijuana
can produce a mild withdrawal syndrome. Symptoms include sleep
disturbance, irritability, loss of appetite and consequent weight
loss, nervousness, anxiety, sweating and upset stomach.
Sometimes chills, increased body temperature and tremors occur.
The withdrawal syndrome usually lasts for less than a week, although
sleep disturbance may persist for a longer period.
- Psychomotor skills: Marijuana reduces the ability to perform
tasks requiring concentration and coordination such as driving
a car.
- Respiratory: Marijuana causes some lung damage similar to that
caused by tobacco smoke. Users may need to be cautioned to avoid,
for example, smoking marijuana in public places near children
or any place where others might be exposed to the second-hand
smoke without prior consent.
- Cardiovascular: Marijuana increases heart rate and blood pressure.
- Immune system: The complete effects of Marijuana remain unknown,
but the substance may have an effect on the immune system.
Approved pharmaceutical drugs related to marijuana (Health Canada,
2001)
Drugs are approved for sale in Canada under the Food and Drug
Act Regulations. The approval process generally includes controls
respecting the safety, efficacy and quality of products. Marijuana
has not been reviewed for safety and effectiveness and has not been
approved for sale as a drug in Canada.
Within the full set of approved pharmaceutical treatments, there
are two commercially available drugs related to marijuana:
- MARINOL®, which contains chemically synthesized THC; and
- CESAMET®, a synthetic cannabinoid.
In Canada, both drugs are approved for the treatment or management
of severe nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy
and may be prescribed by physicians. MARINOL® has also been
approved for the treatment of anorexia associated with weight loss
in people living with AIDS. Both drugs are taken orally.
Canadian Nurses Association 50 Driveway
Ottawa ON K2P 1E2
Tel: (613) 237-2133 or 1-800-361-8404 Fax: (613) 237-3520
E-mail: prr@cna-aiic.ca
Web site: www.cna-aiic.ca
- There is no test available that can identify a "new"
or "acute case" of hepatitis C. The tests can only
tell you if the person has antibodies to the virus or if the virus
is present in their blood. Therefore neither incidence nor prevalence
is technically correct. It is why they will not be used in this
document.
- Adapted from: Gimenez-Lambert et al., 1996
- Sources for this section: Gimenez-Lambert et al., 1996; Young
& Hayes, 2002.
- A standardized set of nutritional recommendations for people
living with hepatitis C is not yet available.
- Adapted from: Schering Canada, 2000, Gimenez-Lambert et al.,
1996; Heathcote et al., 2001; Yim, 2001.
- Sources of information for this section include: Heathcote et
al., 2001; Yim, 2001.
- Sources for this section include: CPCA & BCHPCA, 1999; McAmmond,
1998; Paquin et al., 2001.
- Sources of information in this section include: CDC on-line
course, 2001; CLF National Hepatitis C Education Program, 2000;
Boucher & Gruslin, 2000.
- Sources of information in this section include: CDC on-line
course, 2001; CLF National Hepatitis C Education Program, 2000;
Boucher & Gruslin, 2000.
- Sources for this section include: Heathcote et al., 2001; CLF
National Hepatitis C Education Program, 2000)
- Sources of information for this section include: Rowe, Rowe,
& Malowaniec, 2000.
- Source of information for this section: Yim, 2001.
- Issues of Canada Communicable Disease Report can be accessed
on-line at www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/publicat/ccdr-rmtc
- Issues of Canada Communicable Disease Report can be accessed
on-line at www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/publicat/ccdr-rmtc
- It should be noted that "marihuana" is spelled with
an "h" in the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act
and its Regulations, as well as in the Marihuana Medical Access
Regulations. "Marijuana" is the other common spelling.
Either spelling is acceptable but when referring to the Canadian
legislation marihuana has to be spelled with an "h".
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