TY - JOUR
T1 - Occupational risk of hepatitis C infections among general dentists and oral surgeons in North America
AU - Thomas, David L.
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was supported by the Research Department of the American Dental Association and the Laboratory of Immunoregulation of the National Institutes of Health.
PY - 1996
Y1 - 1996
N2 - PURPOSE: To assess the occupational risk of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among dental personnel. METHODS: Three hundred forty-three oral surgeons and 305 general dentists were recruited at national meetings of the American Dental Association and matched by gender, age, years of practice, and location of practice. Each participant completed a detailed questionnaire designed to measure occupational risk of blood-borne infections and supplied a sample of blood. Antibodies to HCV (anti-HCV) were assessed by second- generation enzyme immunoassay and recombinant immunoblot assay. As a marker of occupational exposure to blood-borne viruses, hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen and antibodies to HBV surface and core antigens were measured by enzyme immunoassay. RESULTS: Anti-HCV was found in 2.0% of oral surgeons and 0.7% of general dentists (odds ratio [OR] = 3.2, P = 0.133). Anti-HCV was more prevalent (P <0.01) in dental personnel who were older, had more years of practice, and had serologic markers of HBV infection. Serologic markers of HBV infection were found in 7.8% of general dentists and 21.2% of oral surgeons (OR 3.1, P <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These data confirm high rates of HBV infection among dental personnel, but suggest that the risk of HCV infection is considerably lower.
AB - PURPOSE: To assess the occupational risk of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among dental personnel. METHODS: Three hundred forty-three oral surgeons and 305 general dentists were recruited at national meetings of the American Dental Association and matched by gender, age, years of practice, and location of practice. Each participant completed a detailed questionnaire designed to measure occupational risk of blood-borne infections and supplied a sample of blood. Antibodies to HCV (anti-HCV) were assessed by second- generation enzyme immunoassay and recombinant immunoblot assay. As a marker of occupational exposure to blood-borne viruses, hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen and antibodies to HBV surface and core antigens were measured by enzyme immunoassay. RESULTS: Anti-HCV was found in 2.0% of oral surgeons and 0.7% of general dentists (odds ratio [OR] = 3.2, P = 0.133). Anti-HCV was more prevalent (P <0.01) in dental personnel who were older, had more years of practice, and had serologic markers of HBV infection. Serologic markers of HBV infection were found in 7.8% of general dentists and 21.2% of oral surgeons (OR 3.1, P <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These data confirm high rates of HBV infection among dental personnel, but suggest that the risk of HCV infection is considerably lower.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0030030302&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0030030302&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/S0002-9343(96)90009-1
DO - 10.1016/S0002-9343(96)90009-1
M3 - Article
C2 - 8579085
AN - SCOPUS:0030030302
SN - 0002-9343
VL - 100
SP - 41
EP - 45
JO - American Journal of Medicine
JF - American Journal of Medicine
IS - 1
ER -