A brief report appearing in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine looks at testing rates for hepatitis C virus (HCV) two years after the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommended it for all baby boomers, and finds rates are still very low.
Approximately 3.5 million people in the United States have chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Most of those (80%) are "baby boomers" (born between 1945 and 1965), and most of them are unaware of their infections despite availability of treatments that may reduce their risk of HCV-related diseases, including chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommended one-time HCV testing for baby boomers in 2013.
In a 2013 report, the authors noted low HCV testing prevalence among baby boomers. However, it is unknown whether HCV testing has changed following the USPSTF recommendation.
Investigators studied responses from nearly 24,000 baby boomers included in the National Health Interview Survey. From 2013 to 2015, HCV testing prevalence among baby boomers increased slightly, from 12.3% to 13.8%. Of the 76.2 million estimated baby boomers in 2015, only 10.5 million reported ever receiving HCV testing. Those with Medicare plus Medicaid, Medicaid only, or military insurance had higher rates of HCV testing than the privately insured. HCV testing was also greater in men versus women, and among college graduates
"Prevalence of HCV testing among baby boomers did not substantially increase and remains low two years after the USPSTF recommendation in 2013," write the authors. "These findings underscore the need for increased awareness for HCV testing among healthcare providers and baby boomers and other innovative strategies such as state-mandated HCV testing."
Reference: Recent Hepatitis C Virus Testing Patterns Among Baby Boomers; Am J Prevent Med 10.1016/j.amepre.2017.01.033
Source: American Cancer Society
Beyond the Surface: Rethinking Environmental Hygiene Validation at Exchange25
June 30th 2025Environmental hygiene is about more than just shiny surfaces. At Exchange25, infection prevention experts urged the field to look deeper, rethink blame, and validate cleaning efforts across the entire care environment, not just EVS tasks.
A Controversial Reboot: New Vaccine Panel Faces Scrutiny, Support, and Sharp Divides
June 26th 2025As the newly appointed Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) met for the first time under sweeping changes by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, the national spotlight turned to the panel’s legitimacy, vaccine guidance, and whether science or ideology would steer public health policy in a polarized era.
Getting Down and Dirty With PPE: Presentations at HSPA by Jill Holdsworth and Katie Belski
June 26th 2025In the heart of the hospital, decontamination technicians tackle one of health care’s dirtiest—and most vital—jobs. At HSPA 2025, 6 packed workshops led by experts Jill Holdsworth and Katie Belski spotlighted the crucial, often-overlooked art of PPE removal. The message was clear: proper doffing saves lives, starting with your own.