Prevalence of hepatitis B, C, and HIV among patients attending a teaching dental hospital

Abstract

ObjectivesTo determine the seroprevalence and case characteristics of hepatitis B, C and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and their transmissibility from patients to dental personnel following percutaneous and mucocutaneous injuries.MethodsAll incidents of sharp and splash injuries reported between January 2010 and January 2017 were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed. Descriptive statistics were calculated using the Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS). Prevalence was calculated as percentages, and chi-square test was used to assess categorical variables where a p-value of ≤0.05 was considered significant.ResultsAmong the 436 reported incidents, 372 patients underwent serological screening. Fourteen patients (3.8%) had antibodies against hepatitis C virus, and 8 patients (2.2%) were positive for hepatitis B surface antigens. All positive cases were clinically asymptomatic. There were no positive cases for HIV. Three of the 14 hepatitis C positive patients were actively infectious upon polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis, but none of the injured dental personnel seroconverted upon a 6-month follow up. Approximately 88% of dental personnel were vaccinated against hepatitis B. Female personnel showed better vaccination rate by comparison to male personnel (p=0.005). Among the 5 different categories of professional status, cleaners showed a significantly low hepatitis B vaccination rate (p<0.000).ConclusionThe prevalence of hepatitis B and C is higher than that previously reported from the United Arab Emirates, but transmissibility of viral hepatitis seems to be negligible.

Comment on: Prevalence of hepatitis B, C, and HIV among patients attending a teaching dental hospital. A 7-year retrospective study from the United Arab Emirates

“…However, the immediate deportation of HIV- positive cases explained their non-existence among the studied cohort. 1 Despite that explanation, I still presume that the actual HIV seroprevalence was underestimated in the studied population. My presumption is based on the following 2 points.…”

“…Al-Mendalawi presumes that the prevalence of HIV in this study 1 is under-reported based on the Global AIDS Response Progress Report 2014, 2 and 2 surveys assessing HIV knowledge and attitude among dental students and dental professionals. Unfortunately, both references are not relevant for the reasons stated below.…”

“…Al-Amad nicely studied the seroprevalence and case characteristics of hepatitis B, C, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and their transmissibility from patients to dental personnel following percutaneous and mucocutaneous injuries in a teaching dental hospital in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE). 1 The author found that among reported incidents, 3.8% of patients had antibodies against hepatitis C virus, 2.2% were positive for hepatitis B surface antigens, and there were no positive cases for HIV. 1 The author delineated that the majority of studied patients attending that dental center were in low-income professions, who have been granted residency visas and work permits despite positive HBV and/or HCV screening results, which explained higher prevalence.…”

“… 1 The author found that among reported incidents, 3.8% of patients had antibodies against hepatitis C virus, 2.2% were positive for hepatitis B surface antigens, and there were no positive cases for HIV. 1 The author delineated that the majority of studied patients attending that dental center were in low-income professions, who have been granted residency visas and work permits despite positive HBV and/or HCV screening results, which explained higher prevalence. However, the immediate deportation of HIV- positive cases explained their non-existence among the studied cohort.…”

Screening for Viral Hepatitis and Other Infectious Diseases in a High-Risk Health Care Group in Mexico

“…Other groups at risk are people with a history of cocaine or marijuana use and people with high-risk sexual behavior (12). Dentists seem to also have a high prevalence of viral hepatitis transmission possibly because of a lack of adherence to infection prevention and control measures (13)(14). Islam et al assessed the knowledge about preventive practices related to HBV, HCV, and liver disease of 892 Mexican HCWs (15).…”