title: Hepatitis B infection in physicians. Results of a nationwide seroepidemiologic survey.
abstract: To define the epidemiologic features of occupationally acquired hepatitis B infection among physicians, we conducted a seroepidemiologic survey of physicians attending three American Medical Association conventions in 1975 and 1976. Of 1,192 participating physicians, 220 (18.5%) had serologic evidence of prior hepatitis B virus infection (positive hepatitis B surface antibody). The infection rate was higher among those practicing in urban communities; it increased with the number of years in practice; and among specialties, it was highest in pathologists (27%) and surgeons (28%). The serologic data demonstrated a changing pattern of viral hepatitis related to entry into the medical profession, with hepatitis B accounting for a majority of clinical hepatitis experienced after beginning medical practice.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000574:American Medical Association; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D013502:General Surgery; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010336:Pathology; D010820:Physicians; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies