HBsAG transmission from a cardiac surgeon incubating hepatitis B resulting in chronic antigenemia in four patients.
A cardiac surgeon experienced an uneventful course of acute hepatitis B. HBsAg was transmitted to 11 persons: 5 of 72 patients operated on during his incubation of hepatitis B, three relatives of the infected patients, one laboratory technician, and two of the surgeon's family members. Two years later, 4 of the 5 operated patients are still infectious, whereas the 7 non-operated persons have cleared their antigenemia. This study demonstrates the significant risk of hepatitis B transmission from a cardiac surgeon incubating the disease. Furthermore, it indicates that patients who have been infected during open heart surgery and cardiopulmonary bypass run a particular risk of becoming chronic HBs antigen carriers.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D013502:General Surgery; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000235:genetics / Q000635:transmission*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006748:Hospital Departments; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens