PREVALENCE OF HELICOBACTER-PYLORI IN RESPIRATORY PHYSICIANS PERFORMING BRONCHOSCOPY - A COMPARISON WITH GASTROENTEROLOGISTS USING THE CARBON-13 UREA BREATH TEST
Lf. Potts et al., PREVALENCE OF HELICOBACTER-PYLORI IN RESPIRATORY PHYSICIANS PERFORMING BRONCHOSCOPY - A COMPARISON WITH GASTROENTEROLOGISTS USING THE CARBON-13 UREA BREATH TEST, Helicobacter, 2(3), 1997, pp. 152-154
Background. The mode of transmission of Helicobacter pylori is unclear
, but it has been shown that gastroenterologists are at a greater risk
of acquiring the infection when performing endoscopy. The current stu
dy was designed to assess the risk H. pylori infection in respiratory
physicians performing bronchoscopy compared to an at-risk group of gas
troenterologists. We were interested in identifying whether the oral c
avity is important in the transmission of H. pylori. Materials and Met
hods. Respiratory physicians and gastroenterologists in southern Engla
nd and Wales were invited to participate in the study. Medical, person
al, and professional details were recorded, and H. pylori status was e
stablished using a carbon 13 urea breath test. Results. The study incl
uded 30 gastroenterologists and 30 respiratory physicians. The groups
were similar for age (mean age, 46.2 years [SD 8.7] and 43.9 years [SD
8.5], respectively), number of years in practice (mean, 16.1 [6.8] an
d 13.2 [5.5], respectively), amount of Third-World travel, and glove a
nd drug use (antacids, Ha antagonists, proton pump inhibitors, promoti
lity agents, and bismuth). The prevalence of upper gastrointestinal sy
mptoms (indigestion, heartburn, abdominal pain) and history of previou
s peptic ulcer or hiatus hernia were similar for both groups. Fifteen
of thirty gastroenterologists and three of thirty respiratory physicia
ns had positive breath tests (chi square, p < .001, 1 df). There was n
o relation between age and H. pylori status. Within the group of gastr
oenterologists, performance of endoscopy without gloves for longer tha
n 7 years was associated with an increased prevalence of infection (>
7 years, 11 of 15 breath-test-positive; < 7 years, 4 of 15 breath-test
-positive [chi square, p = .01, 1 df]). Conclusions. Gastroenterologis
ts in this study appeared to be at risk of infection, whereas respirat
ory physicians are not. Gastroenterologists who wear gloves during end
oscopy appear to be at lower risk of H. pylori infection.