Project summary: A cohort of women was exposed to hepatitis C virus (HCV) in a health care setting to a common source. The source was chronically infected with HCV genotype 1b. Fifty-five women developed HCV infection after their exposure. This project will attempt to integrate data on all individuals known to have been infected with HCV identified in a state-wide look back investigation. An epidemiological analysis within this cohort is uniquely placed to be able to describe natural history of HCV from a known time of infection, and predictors of response to HCV treatment for a common hepatitis C virus. Understanding predictors of spontaneous clearance and treatment response are important for clinical and public health knowledge. Any information published from this study will be de-identified to protect confidentiality.

Information for participants: If any woman involved would like to discuss the findings, or who would like psychological support related to this cohort, they can contact the investigators at Burnet Institute regardless of where they received their medical care or treatment.

Alfred Health Human Research Ethics Committee project number: 151/13 Principal investigator: Professor Margaret Hellard

Contact details:

Professor Margaret Hellard

Centre for Population Health, Burnet Institute, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne VIC 3004

Telephone: 03 9282 2163

Fax: 03 9282 2100

Alfred Health site study nurse: Ms Anna Wilkinson

Telephone: 03 8506 2393

Email: awilkinson@burnet.edu.au

Eastern Health site study nurse: Ms Sarah Chivers

Telephone: 03 9094 9548