The prevalence of serological markers for hepatitis B virus infection amongst anaesthetists in the Oxford region.
A total of 125 anaesthetists from nine hospitals within the Oxford region were surveyed to study the prevalence of serological markers for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. No anaesthetists were positive for Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg) and only four (3.2%) were positive for HBsAg antibody (anti-HBsAg). This result is in marked contrast to other studies and suggests that anaesthetists in the United Kingdom do not constitute a high risk population. The reasons for this are discussed.
D000776:Anesthesiology; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D004739:England; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D012306:Risk
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens