HIV and hepatitis B infection in an international cohort of dental hygienists.
The risk for dental hygienists to contract HIV and hepatitis B infection at work was studied in an international cohort of 167 dental hygienists from 13 countries. A significant proportion of the hygienists had taken care of HIV-positive patients or patients known to be at risk for contracting HIV infection. None of the hygienists had antibodies to HIV. Five hygienists who came from or worked in high-endemic areas for hepatitis B infection had antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen, consistent with previous infection with hepatitis B virus. The study is in agreement with previous reports on blood-borne infections among health care workers, concluding that the risk for dental hygienists of contracting HIV and hepatitis B infection is minimal.
Dobloug
J H
JH
Department of Infectious Diseases, Ullevaal Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Gerner
N W
NW
Hurlen
B
B
Bruun
J N
JN
Skaug
K
K
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000635:transmission*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003756:Dental Hygienists; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000635:transmission*; D012307:Risk Factors