title: Seroprevalence of hepatitis B surface antibody in South African dental personnel.
abstract: Because there are no data available on the seroprevalence of hepatitis B in dental personnel in South Africa, a study was performed to assess the antibody status to hepatitis B surface antigen among 129 dental (preclinical) students and 62 dental hygienists at the Western Cape Dental School of South Africa. A total of 11 dental students and nine hygienists were positive to hepatitis B surface antibody, indicating a seroprevalence of 8.5% and 14.5%, respectively. These results, reported for the first time in dental personnel in South Africa, imply that dental students and hygienists in this part of the world are exposed to a significant risk of contracting hepatitis B.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, University of the Western Cape, Tygerberg.
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Moola
authors.forename: L P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Samaranayake
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Cleophas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003756:Dental Hygienists; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000635:transmission; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D015995:Prevalence; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D013335:Students, Dental
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies