OCCUPATIONAL RISK OF HEPATITIS-C INFECTIONS AMONG GENERAL DENTISTS AND ORAL SURGEONS IN NORTH-AMERICA

PURPOSE: To assess the occupational risk of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in fection among dental personnel. METHODS: Three hundred forty-three ora l surgeons and 305 general dentists were recruited at national meeting s of the American Dental Association and matched by gender, age, years of practice, and location of practice. Each participant completed a d etailed questionnaire designed to measure occupational risk of blood-b orne infections and supplied a sample of blood. Antibodies to HCV (ant i-HCV) were assessed by second-generation enzyme immunoassay and recom binant immunoblot assay. As a marker of occupational exposure to blood -borne viruses, hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen and antibodies to HBV surface and core antigens were measured by enzyme immunoassay. RESULTS: Anti-HCV was found in 2.0% of oral surgeons and 0.7% of gene ral dentists (odds ratio [OR] = 3.2, P = 0.133). Anti-HCV was more pre valent (P < 0.01) in dental personnel who were older, had more years o f practice, and had serologic markers of HBV infection. Serologic mark ers of HBV infection were found in 7.8% of general dentists and 21.2% of oral surgeons (OR 3.1, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These data confirm high rates of HBV infection among dental personnel, but suggest that t he risk of HCV infection is considerably lower.