[The prevalence of hepatitis B and C in blood donors in a 3rd-level hospital of Mexico City].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the prevalence of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) and B virus (HBV) in blood donors attending Médica Sur Hospital.


METHODS
A total of 9,099 blood donors were tested for hepatitis B and C viruses from 1994 to 1998. A questionnaire was used to collect data and HCV and HBV were detected in serum. We obtained percentages and assessed statistical significance using the chi 2 test.


RESULTS
The prevalence of HCV and HBV carriers was 0.47 and 0.11 per cent. The main risk factors were dental procedures (11.6% for HCV and 20%, for HBV), and unsafe sexual practices (20%) for HBV.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate a low prevalence of HCV and HBV infection in this population.
Méndez-Sánchez
N
N
Departamento de Investigación Biomédica, Fundación Clínica Médica Sur, México, D.F.
Baptista-González
H
H
Sánchez-Gómez
R H
RH
Bordes-Aznar
J
J
Uribe-Esquivel
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001782:Blood Donors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*