Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in medical professionals in Spain

Objective The epidemiology of Helicobacter pylori infection is still under investigation, and the exact source. of infection and its mode of transmiss ion are still unknown. The purpose of this prospective study was to determi ne whether medical professionals in Spain, especially gastroenterologists a nd gastrointestinal endoscopists, have a higher prevalence of H. pylori inf ection. Methods Two hundred and twenty four medical professionals attending the ann ual gastroenterology meeting in Spain (176 men, 48 women; mean age, 41.8 +/ - 11.4 years; range, 25-73 years) and a control group of 189 persons of sim ilar age were investigated for the prevalence of H. pylori infection by usi ng the C-13-urea breath test. All medical professionals completed a questio nnaire regarding medical specialty and regular performing of gastrointestin al endoscopy procedures. Results The overall prevalence of H. pylori infection in total medical prof essionals was 52.7%, compared with 51.9% in the control group (P > 0.05). W hen specialty was considered, the prevalence of H. pylori infection among g astroenterologists was 53.3%, also not significantly higher than 50.0% amon g non-gastroenterologists (P > 0.05), There were no statistical differences of ii, pylori prevalence among endoscopists and non-endoscopists, Conclusions Medical practice and, more specifically, gastroenterology and t he regular performance of gastrointestinal endoscopy pose no additional ris k for H. pylori infection in Spain. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 11:239-242 (C) 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.