[Increased incidence of immunoglobulin G antibodies against Helicobacter pylori among trainee nurses].
OBJECTIVE
It is unclear whether persons in the nursing profession are at special risk of infection with Helicobacter pylori. If faecal-oral, oral-oral or gastro-oral transmission occurs, infections with H. pylori should be observed after the start of nursing. We studied the incidence of serologically proved infections in a collective of trainee nurses.


METHODS
The presence of immunoglobulin G antibodies against Helicobacter pylori in nurses (128 women, 37 men, mean age at the beginning of training: 22.2 +/- 5.6 years) was tested at the beginning and end of training.


RESULTS
At the beginning of training a prevalence of 12.5% was found among German nurses (n=152) and of 46.2% among foreign nurses (n=13). In the follow up test after a mean of 30 months, eight German nurses had new positive results, indicating recent infection. The annual incidence was calculated to be 2.3 % and exceeded the expected value for adults not occupationally exposed to infectious material.


RESULTS
In view of the calculated increased incidence, nursing must be considered to be a risk factor for infection with Helicobacter pylori.
Schmid
K
K
Institut mit Poliklinik für Arbeits-, Sozial- und Umweltmedizin (Direktor: Prof. Dr. med. H. Drexler), Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen. klaus.schmid@rzmail.uni-erlangen.de
Schoerner
C
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009726:Nurses; D009727:Nurses, Male; D012307:Risk Factors
D007074:Immunoglobulin G