title: Blood exposure and the risk of hepatitis B virus infection in firefighters.
abstract: The risk of infection with bloodborne pathogens among public safety workers is not well defined. This survey assessed personal and occupational risk factors among uniformed fire department employees by a self-administered questionnaire and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection status by serologic testing. Overall, 46 (7.8%) of 592 employees had past or current hepatitis B virus infection. Employees reporting blood contact with skin had been infected more often than employees without this exposure (11% vs 5.8%, prevalence ratio = 1.9, 95% confidence interval, 1.1, 3.3). Prevalence of infection did not differ by age, years on the job, or job duties. The adjusted prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection among male employees (4.5%) was not significantly different than the prevalence in American men (6.8%) (P = .17). Although the overall risk of hepatitis B virus infection is not greater among fire department employees than the general population, blood contact with skin may elevate this risk.
authors.affiliation: Hepatitis Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Woodruff
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Moyer
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: O'Rourke
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Margolis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005845:Georgia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies