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The prevalence of serological markers for hepatitis B virus infection amongst anaesthetists in the Oxford region |
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| Authors: | M. E. SINCLAIR M. W. ASHBY J. B. KURTZ |
| Affiliation: | M.E. Sinclair, MB. ChB, FFARCS, M.W. Ashby, MB, ChB, FFARCS, Nuffield Department of Anaesthetics;J.B. Kurtz, MRCP, MRC Path, Department of Virology, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford. |
| Abstract: | A total of 125 anaesthetists from nine hospitals within the Oxford region were surveyed to study the prevalence of serological markers for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. No anaesthetists were positive for Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg) and only four (3.2%) were positive for HBsAg antibody (anti-HBsAg). This result is in marked contrast to other studies and suggests that anaesthetists in the United Kingdom do not constitute a high risk population. The reasons for this are discussed. |
| Keywords: | Complications hepatitis B virus infection |