The prevalence of hepatitis B virus markers in dental personnel in Singapore.
A seroepidemiological survey of the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers was conducted in a group of 693 dental personnel in Singapore where HBV infection is endemic. The overall prevalence of HBsAg (4.5%) and anti-HBc (29%) was no higher than that in the general population. However, dentists had a significantly higher HBsAg prevalence (11.4%) compared with that in the general population (4.2%) (P less than 0.01) and of other categories of dental personnel (3.1%) (P less than 0.001). Similarly, the anti-HBc prevalence of the dentists (45.6%) was significantly higher than that of the general population (29.7%) (P less than 0.01) and of other categories of dental personnel (25.7%) (P less than 0.0001). It appears that dentists in the endemic area have a definite occupational risk of acquiring HBV infection.
Goh
K T
KT
Quarantine & Epidemiology Department, Ministry of the Environment, Singapore.
Chan
Y W
YW
Wong
L Y
LY
Kong
K H
KH
Oon
C J
CJ
Guan
R
R
D003797:Dental Staff; D003815:Dentists; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D012846:Singapore; D014611:Vaccination
D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens