Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in endoscopy and non-endoscopy personnel: results of field survey with serology and 14C-urea breath test.
OBJECTIVE
The aims of the study were, first, to determine the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (HP) among endoscopy personnel and a group of non-endoscopy volunteers and, second, to evaluate the usefulness of two noninvasive tests of diagnosis: serology and the urea breath test.


METHODS
The two noninvasive methods of HP diagnosis, serology and 14C-urea breath test (UBT), were used in a cross-sectional survey of endoscopists, nurse-assistants, and non-endoscopy personnel.


RESULTS
One hundred and thirty-five volunteers were recruited for the study. In 116, results of the two tests were in agreement (kappa = 0.645). Further analysis was based on the results of the UBT. Endoscopy personnel (endoscopists and nurse-assistants) as a group had a significantly higher incidence of HP than did controls (32.9% vs. 11.3%; p = 0.004). The two groups were comparable with regard to mean age, sex, ethnic distribution, and social class.


CONCLUSIONS
HP infection is more prevalent among endoscopy personnel. Both diagnostic tests (serology and UBT) were convenient and relatively simple to perform, and results gave a high level of agreement.
Goh
K L
KL
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Parasakthi
N
N
Ong
K K
KK
D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D001944:Breath Tests; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004724:Endoscopy; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008503:Medical Staff; D008875:Middle Aged; D009728:Nursing Assistants; D014508:Urea
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D014508:Urea