HELICOBACTER-PYLORI INFECTION IN DENTISTS - A CASE-CONTROL STUDY

To test the null hypothesis that frequent and multiple salivary exposu re is not a risk factor for developing H. pylori infection, serum anti -H. pylori IgG from 179 dentists and dental students and 179 age-, sex - and socioeconomic-matched controls were assayed using an ELISA, Sero prevalence in dentists was 16% (11/70); clinical dental students 6% (3 /47); and pre-clinical dental students 10% (6/62). There were no diffe rences in H. pylori seropositivity between cases and controls, There w as an increase in H. pylori seropositivity with age (chi(trend)(2) 9.0 4, p = 0.003). These data provide evidence that adults are not at high risk of developing H. pylori infection as a result of exposures to sa liva from multiple sources.