Quality improvement to evaluate and provide treatment for chronic hepatitis C postpartum

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are increasing among reproductive age individuals. Direct acting antivirals (DAAs) can cure HCV, but the use of DAAs is not currently recommended during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Individuals with HCV commonly have inadequate prenatal and postnatal care. The purpose of our study was to demonstrate the success of a quality improvement program to increase evaluation during pregnancy and ensuring access to DAA treatment medication during the postpartum period for individuals with chronic HCV to achieve cure 12 weeks after completing therapy. The primary outcome was documented HCV cure rate compared among individuals who received immediate treatment with DAA after delivery or after weaning or a traditional approach of referral to an infectious diseases specialist or hepatologist. The secondary outcome was the proportion of infants exposed to HCV evaluated. An interdisciplinary team developed a program to increase evaluation and HCV treatment for postpartum individuals. Individuals who received prenatal care from March 2017 to May 2021 were eligible. Individuals with chronic HCV had a laboratory evaluation before delivery, and appropriate DAAs were selected for postpartum treatment. The health system specialty pharmacy dispensed DAA prescriptions immediately after delivery to those who were not breastfeeding. Individuals who did breastfeed had the option to begin treatment after weaning. Cure was defined as a sustained viral response or undetectable HCV RNA collected 12 weeks after completing DAA treatment. We demonstrate the success of an interdisciplinary team to ensure access to therapy for the treatment of postpartum chronic HCV. Only 3 infants (25%) with mothers referred were evaluated at our institution compared with 44% of infants (n = 10) whose mothers were treated after delivery. An interdisciplinary team for HCV treatment improves access to treatment therapy with DAAs leading to the cure of chronic HCV after delivery.