Hepatitis & HIV: prevalence of infection and changing attitudes toward infection control procedures in British Columbia.
Dental professionals attending the annual meeting of the College of Dental Surgeons of British Columbia in June 1990 were involved in a survey to assess the prevalence of infection with Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and Human Immunodeficiency viruses, the acceptance of vaccination for protection against Hepatitis B virus, and the compliance with infection control guidelines. Participation was voluntary and anonymous and required completion of a questionnaire and donation of a blood sample. Four hundred one of 1,995 convention attendees participated. Fourteen were found to have markers of Hepatitis B infection; 13 had antibodies to both Hepatitis B surface antigen and Hepatitis B core antigen, and one was positive for Hepatitis B surface antigen. One individual had markers for both Hepatitis C and Hepatitis B viruses. None tested positive for antibody to Human Immunodeficiency virus. Vaccination against Hepatitis B virus was reported overall by 67 percent of the participants, but dentists and hygienists had a higher rate of vaccination (82 percent and 81 percent, respectively) when compared to dental assistants (41 percent; P less than .001). Acceptance of infection control procedures was high, with 92 percent of participants reporting use of gloves for all patients and 82 percent reporting use of masks and eye protection.
Roscoe
D L
DL
Division of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver.
Gibson
G B
GB
Noble
M A
MA
Mathias
R G
RG
Gibson
G C
GC
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001955:British Columbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003797:Dental Staff; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*