title: Prevalence of markers for human immunodeficiency, hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses in maxillofacial and oral surgery patients at Medunsa.
abstract: Information on the incidence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) virus infections is needed for the planning of preventative measures against the spreading of these blood borne pathogens through treatment in the clinic. A survey was conducted to determine the incidence for 180 patients attending the maxillofacial and oral surgery clinic at the Medunsa Dental Hospital. Antibodies to HIV were found in 1.1 per cent. Hepatitis B surface antigen in 2.8 per cent and Hepatitis B core antibodies as the sole marker in three patients who tested positive for HBV-DNA. The prevalence of anti-HCV was 1.1 per cent. The presence of these infections indicates that there is a need for dental health care workers to comply with all recommended precautionary measures, including immunization against hepatitis B.
authors.affiliation: Department of Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery, Medical University of Southern Africa, Medunsa.
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Dreyer
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aspinall
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Jacobs
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures; D015995:Prevalence; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies