Prevalence of blood-borne viruses among Iranian dentists: Results of a national survey

• Authors: Mohammad Sadegh Ahmad Akhoundi , Nafiseh Momeni , Mehdi Norouzi , Leila Ghalichi , Ahmad Reza Shamshiri , Seyed Moayed Alavian , Vahdat Poortahmasebi , Seyed Mohammad Jazayeri

Abstracts

EN

Objectives Health care workers, including dentists, are at the front line for acquiring blood-borne virus infections. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of hepatitis B, hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency viruses among Iranian dentists. Material and Methods The survey included 1628 dental health care workers who attended the 51st annual Congress of the Iranian Dental Association. Data on the risk of blood-borne virus transmission during health care and infection control practices were gathered from self-administered questionnaires. Sera were screened serologically by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The positive samples were examined by polymerase chain reaction (PRC) followed by direct sequencing. Results Six (0.36%) and 81 (5.0%) were positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and (anti-hepatitis B virus core antigen (anti-HBc), respectively. Only 1 (0.061%) was positive for anti-hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV). No case was positive for anti-human immunodeficiency virus (anti-HIV). One case was diagnosed as being occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. One thousand five hundred thirty-five (94.3%) of participants had received at least 1 dose of HBV vaccine. One thousand three hundred fifty-nine (88.5%) contained hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) > 10 IU/ml, of whom 55 (4.0%) were anti-HBc positive, suggesting that they had been infected with HBV in the past. Anti-HBc positive cases had past histories of hepatitis, either their own or their spouses’. Individuals with inadequate anti-HBs levels (< 10 IU/ml) were significantly more prevalent among anti-HBc positive cases (p < 0.001). Conclusions The prevalence of blood-borne viruses among dental HCWs found in this study was lower than past reports from Iranian dentists and general population. The implementation of HBV vaccination together with improvement in infection control procedures has reduced the potential for risk infection among Iranian dentists.

Keywords

EN

infection control; blood-borne viruses; dentists; Health care workers; occult hepatitis B infection; HBV vaccine

• Publisher: Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. dra Jerzego Nofera w Łodzi
• Journal: International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health
• Year: 2015
• Volume: 28
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 593-602

Dates

published

2015

Contributors

author

Mohammad Sadegh Ahmad Akhoundi

• Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran (Dental Research Center, Dental Research Institute)
• Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran (Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry)

author

Nafiseh Momeni

• Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran (Dental Research Center, Dental Research Institute)

author

Mehdi Norouzi

• Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran (Department of Virology, School of Public Health, Hepatitis B Molecular Laboratory)

author

Leila Ghalichi

• Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran (Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Mental Health Research Center)

author

Ahmad Reza Shamshiri

• Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran (Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Dental Research Center)

author

Seyed Moayed Alavian

• Middle East Liver Diseases Center (MELD Centers), Tehran, Iran (Department of Molecular Hepatology)

author

Vahdat Poortahmasebi

• Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran (Department of Virology, School of Public Health, Hepatitis B Molecular Laboratory)

author

Seyed Mohammad Jazayeri

• Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran (Department of Virology, School of Public Health, Hepatitis B Molecular Laboratory)

Identifiers

DOI

10.13075/ijomeh.1896.00324

Biblioteka Nauki

2177368