Infection with hepatitis C virus (hepatitis C) is an important medical and social problem in Poland and worldwide. The etiologic factor of this disease is hepatitis C virus (HCV), which is transmitted via blood and blood-derived products. The routes of infection with HCV are various types of damage (disruption) of tissue continuity, and contact with infected blood, e.g. medical procedures and occupational exposure).   According to the reports by the Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine in Łódź, Poland, the majority of cases of infection with HCV or HBV were due to occupational infection in Polish hospitals. HCV antibodies (anti-HCV) were found among the examined medical staff, including nurses, e.g. in 2009 (1.40%); 2011 (1.42%); and in 2013 (0.80%). Considering the risk of infection with HCV among nurses and other medical staff it is necessary to observe the procedures of prevention of occupational exposure, proper management of employees after occupational exposure (immediate laboratory tests of the employee and the patient, post-exposure prophylactic administration of immunoglobulin or antiviral agents).Considering a high risk of infection with HCV in medical facilities among nurses and other medical staff it is necessary to conduct a wide range of non-specific methods of prevention – lack of specific methods. 

Lidia Sierpinska, MD, RN. Specialist in public health and in the field of epidemiological nursing. Head nurse, Military Clinical Hospital No. 1 with Polyclinic, Independent Public Health Care Unit, Lublin, Poland (33 years). Research and didactic employee at Vincent Pol University in Lublin, nursing speciality (2 years). Adjuct at the Radom School of Higher Education, nursing speciality (17 years). National consultant for defence in the field of nursing (15 years). Many publications within the scope of issues concerning quality management of medical services, and problems of hepatitis C as a risk factor for hospital-acquired infections.