Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a significant public health issue for Australia affecting about 1% of the population. However, as it is generally an asymptomatic condition, current estimates suggest that up to 40% of people who are infected with the virus remain undiagnosed. GPs are the health care workers most likely to see cases of hepatitis infection and therefore play a major role in the recognition of the need for testing, diagnosis and referral to specialist services as well as providing ongoing patient support and management of chronic symptoms.
In Australia in 2004 there was an estimated 194,260 people living with hepatitis C infection including 32,800 with stage 2/3 liver disease and 8,160 living with hepatitis C related cirrhosis. Yet only an estimated 2,069 people were prescribed ribavirin and interferon combination treatment for hepatitis C infection in 2004.
There were 3030 hepatitis C notifications in Victoria in 2005 with 170 notified as newly acquired. Every Victorian division posted hepatitis C notifications, to view divisional statistics see /_assets/http/www.health.vic.gov.au/ideas/downloads/daily_reports/rptDGPSummary.pdf

Hepatitis C related liver disease is already the leading cause for liver transplants in Australia and without an increase in treatment uptake there will be an estimated 25,000 people with hepatitis C related cirrhosis by 2020. Treatment with pegylated interferon and ribavirin is successful in treating 60% of people with hepatitis C, curing them of the virus and avoiding cirrhosis and potentially liver cancer. For people with different genotypes of hepatitis C their chance of being cured can be as high as 80%
The major focus of GPDV’s work is a collaborative partnership with a number of stakeholders to develop a hepatitis C education package for general practice. The primary aim of this education is to improve general practice’s overall knowledge relating to HCV including transmission, risk factors, impact and support needs. As well as raising awareness of referral to support/information/treatment services
A resource has been designed to serve as a quick reference guide to assist in the testing, diagnosis, management and referral to specialist services for patients with hepatitis C. The resource was developed by GPDV, with input from the GPDV Hepatitis C Advisory Group and was funded by the Department of Human Services.

Click here for the Hepatitis C Quick Reference Chart for General Practice  (956kb)

ASHM are running two 2 day short courses on the 9 & 10 of October 2006

Further details can be found on the ASHM web site
http://www.ashm.org.au/courses/


GPDV is also able to facilitate Hepatitis C educational workshops for both GPs and practice nurses.
For further information please contact Michelle Wills, Special Programs Consultant: m.wills@gpdv.com.au