When Enough Is Not Enough: Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment for Hepatitis C in Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department

Abstract

Chronic hepatitis C viral (HCV)infection is the most common blood‐borne infection affecting at least 3.5 million people in the USA.1 HCV is a public health threat as it can lead to cirrhosis, liver decompensation with variceal bleeding, ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, hepatocellular carcinoma or death.2 The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 399,000 individuals died from cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma caused by HCV infection in 2015.