Abstract
To the Editor: In their otherwise excellent article (May 21 issue),1 Kelen et al. understate the risk of acquisition of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection by health care workers as compared with the risk of acquisition of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Their article states, “The rate of occupational acquisition of HBV among unvaccinated health care providers may be approximately 50 to 100 percent higher than the rate for HIV-1, since the risk of transmission after percutaneous exposure to HBsAg [hepatitis B surface antigen]-positive blood can be as high as 30 percent.” Since HIV is transmitted to approximately 0.3 percent…
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1032 |
Number of pages | 1 |
Journal | New England Journal of Medicine |
Volume | 327 |
Issue number | 14 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Oct 1 1992 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Medicine