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Postgrad Med J 2004;80:180-182 doi:10.1136/pgmj.2003.005017
  • Audit

Providing treatment for hepatitis C in an Australian district centre

  1. A Ewart1,
  2. L Harrison2,
  3. B Joyner3,
  4. A Safe1
  1. 1Department of Medicine, Rockhampton Base Hospital, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia
  2. 2Sexual Health Clinic, Rockhampton Base Hospital, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia
  3. 3Rural Clinical Division, University of Queensland, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia
  1. Correspondence to:
 Dr Amir Safe
 Northern General Hospital, Herries Road, Sheffield S5 7AU, UK; amirsafehotmail.com
  • Received 5 January 2003
  • Accepted 11 March 2003

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) poses a major public health problem world wide. The introduction of combined therapy (interferon and ribavirin) and the recent development of pegylated interferon have offered the opportunity to alter the natural history of HCV, potentially reducing morbidity and mortality. Until recently, treatment has been confined to larger Australian cities. This paper describes the establishment of a clinic for the treatment of HCV in a regional Australian city. The facilities of the sexual health clinic were utilised. Factors contributing to the success of the clinic include the specialist nurse, a multidisciplinary approach, and the service model of shared care with general practitioners. The patient population and the outcomes of managing HCV in a regional centre are described. The sustained viral response rate is comparable to the published data from specialist centres.

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