Viral Hepatitis Project
Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)
Hepatitis C is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Hepatitis C is a blood-borne virus. Today, most people become infected with the hepatitis C virus by sharing needles or other equipment to inject drugs. For some people, hepatitis C is a short-term illness but for more than 50% of people who become infected with the hepatitis C virus, it becomes a long-term, chronic infection. Chronic hepatitis C is a serious disease than can result in long-term health problems, even death. Many people might not be aware of their infection because they are not clinically ill. There is no vaccine for hepatitis C. The best way to prevent hepatitis C is by avoiding behaviors that can spread the disease, especially injecting drugs. (CDC) Resources for both providers and patients can be located on this page below.
Hepatitis C (HCV) Toolkit Curriculum
The purpose of this training is to improve providers’ capacity to screen, medically manage, and provide advanced care for patients with Hepatitis C virus.
Resources
For additional information, click on the dropdown arrow.
HCV Guidance: Recommendations for Testing, Managing, and Treating Hepatitis C
The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) has developed a web-based process for the rapid formulation and dissemination of evidence-based, expert-developed recommendations for hepatitis C management. New sections will be added, and the recommendations will be updated on a regular basis as new information becomes available.
Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA): Hepatitis C Virus
Up-to-date guidance for the treatment of HCV infection from IDSA and the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, in collaboration with the International Antiviral Society-USA.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Viral Hepatitis
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver often caused by a virus. Learn about viral hepatitis, statistics, surveillance, resources, populations and impact.
Hepatitis C Online Course (University of Washington National Hepatitis Training Center)
Hepatitis C Online is a free educational website from the University of Washington National Hepatitis Training Center. This project is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
This site addresses the diagnosis, monitoring, and management of hepatitis C virus infection.
Free CME credit and CNE/CE contact hours are offered throughout this site. Pharmacology CE for advanced practice nurses is also available for many activities.
Liverpool HEP Drug Interaction Checker
The Liverpool HEP Drug Interaction Checker provides a clinically useful, reliable, comprehensive, up-to-date, evidence-based drug-drug interaction resource, freely available to healthcare workers, patients and researchers.
Adapted from hcvadvocate.org (click a title to download pdf)
- AALSD-Recommended HCV Treatments: DAA-Naive Patients
- CDC, USPSTF, and AASLD/IDSA Hepatitis C Virus Screening Recommendations
- HIV/HCV Drug-Drug Interactions
- Pretreatment Evaluation Before HCV Therapy
- Quick Reference Sheet: Care and Counseling of Patients Following SVR
- Hepatitis C: Getting Cured is Easier than Ever (Trifold)
Viral Hepatitis Webinars
View our archived presentations on viral hepatitis here.
Events Happening Around the Southeast
View our events calendar to see our trainings offered throughout the Southeast region.
Get in Contact with Us
Have a question or need additional assistance? Please feel free to use the contact form above to get in touch with us.
About the Southeast AETC Viral Hepatitis Project Director
Cody Chastain, MD
Viral Hepatitis Project Director
Dr. Cody Chastain graduated from Loma Linda University School of Medicine in Loma Linda, CA in 2008 and was awarded the Chancellor’s Award as the top overall graduate. He trained and completed his training in Internal Medicine in 2011 at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, NC, where he was awarded the Haskel Schiff Award for excellence in the practice of clinical medicine. After working as a hospitalist for Duke University Health Systems, Dr. Chastain completed subspecialty training in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he also served as chief fellow. He joined faculty as an assistant professor in 2014 and currently leads the division’s Viral Hepatitis Program. He is an active educator in the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and has received the Hugh J. Morgan Teaching Award and the William Schaffner Teaching Award for resident and fellow education. He currently serves as the Viral Hepatitis Project Director for the Southeast AIDS Education and Training Center.
The field of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) treatment is changing at an extremely rapid pace with the advent of highly effective directly-acting agents (DAAs); the challenges of treating co-infected patients are significant. Although the primary mission of any AETC is focused on HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis is increasingly important both independent of and related to HIV. In the U S, approximately 730,000 people are chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV), while over 2.7 million people are chronically infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). To augment provider education in this arena, we actively incorporated viral hepatitis education into both live and web-based programming for HIV providers, trainees, and other healthcare providers. Cody Chastain, MD, a speaker for the TN AETC, Vanderbilt University, and the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) presents on this topic weekly and has championed HCV education for providers across the state.
