From the Mailing List of the Italian Society of Nephrology: use of isolation rooms for HBV-positive patients in dialysis[PART TWO]

In the course of recent months, on the mailing list of the Italian Society of Nephrology (ML-SIN), a message asking for opinions on preventative measures for HBsAg patients has stimulated an extensive debate, in particular on the use of separate dialysis rooms. The discussion evidenced significant differences in the procedures adopted, not only between dialysis units, but also in regional health systems' directives. This emphasizes the necessity in dealing carefully with this problem, taking into account the scientific evidence of the infectious risk and epidemiological profile of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in dialysis patients. Moreover, potential solutions must be considered in terms of their effective cost benefit ratio. To complete the previous article, which examined the question from the viewpoint of an expert nephrologist, this issue of the review dedicated to the ML-SIN reports the opinion of an infectious diseases specialist, identified for its scientific contribution to this specific discussion.