Nosocomial transmission of hepatitis C virus associated with the use of multidose saline vials.

Objective: To identify the source of an outbreak of acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among 3 patients occurring within 8 weeks of hospitalization in the same ward of a Florida hospital during November 1998.

Design: A retrospective cohort study was conducted among 41 patients hospitalized between November 11 and 19, 1998. Patients' blood was tested for antibodies to HCV, and HCV RNA-positive samples were genotyped and sequenced.