Veterans Administration cooperative study on hepatitis and dentistry

• Published in: The Journal of the American Dental Association (1939) Vol. 113; no. 3; p. 390
• Main Authors: Schiff, E R, de Medina, M D, Kline, S N, Johnson, G R, Chan, Y K, Shorey, J, Calhoun, N, Irish, E F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.09.1986
• Subjects: Dental Auxiliaries; Dental Care; Dentists; Gloves, Surgical; Hepatitis B - diagnosis; Hepatitis B - etiology; Hepatitis B - prevention & control; Hepatitis B Core Antigens - analysis; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens - analysis; Humans; Masks; Occupational Diseases - diagnosis; Occupational Diseases - etiology; Occupational Diseases - prevention & control; Risk; United States; United States Department of Veterans Affairs; United States
• ISSN: 0002-8177
• DOI: 10.14219/jada.archive.1986.0210

Personnel in the VA dental facilities were screened for the detection of viral hepatitis and identification of factors implicating infectivity. A total of 963 personnel from 126 dental facilities throughout the United States voluntarily participated in the study. The rate of seroconversion for any hepatitis B markers was approximately 1% per year. Serial positive tests for antibody to hepatitis B core antigen or antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (or both) were present in 16.2% of dentists and 13.0% of dental auxiliary personnel. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons composed the highest prevalence occupation (24.0%), and clinical personnel composed the lowest prevalence occupation (8.9%). There was a significant association between years in dental environment and serological positivity for viral B infection. The dentists and dental auxiliary personnel had significant linear trends of increasing serological positivity with years in the dental environment. Although a majority of personnel reported wearing gloves while treating high-risk patients or performing invasive procedures, inadequate prophylactic measures were exercised for most patients undergoing a variety of less invasive procedures. The results of the study show the need for an active immunization program against type B viral infection for dental and dental auxiliary personnel, preferably before the initial exposure to the professional environment.