Abstract
Introduction:
a 50% gap in identifying sources of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission suggests the existence of disregarded epidemiological associations between this infection and work accidents.
Objective:
to present and support the hypothesis of unexploited routes of HCV occupational transmission in any productive sectors due to their own work processes and environments.
Methods:
bibliographic and documentary review searching evidence of the association between HCV infection and work accidents as well as verifying the importance of the articulation between academic knowledge and worker’s knowledge regarding the disease identification and control.
Discussion:
data from accidents involving exposure to biological agents highlight occupations not typically considered in HCV studies. Magnitude, silent and long-term infections as well as environmental susceptibility to HCV for 16-23 hours make the hypothesis of propagation in accidents with skin rupture plausible when there is direct contact between workers and indirectly through the sharing of instruments/tools/robots. Epidemiological analyses considering the work process may contribute to a better understanding of HCV occupational transmission. Workers must also play a strategic role in research activities, indicators definition and intervention actions in all productive sectors.
Keywords:
workers’ health surveillance; hepatitis C; work accidents; occupational exposure; occupational health