Serologic Evaluation for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV-1 of Surgical Patients and Health Care Providers in a Urology Clinic-1 of 5

[Guest guest]

Infection Control

Serologic Evaluation for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV-1 of Surgical

Patients and Health Care Providers in a Urology Clinic

from Infections in Urology ®

Bora Ozveren, MD, Orkunt Ayaz, MD, Tufan Tarcan, MD, Bulent Erkurt, MD,

Levent Turkeri, MD, Atif Akdas, MD; Marmara University School of Medicine,

Istanbul, Turkey

Abstract and Introduction

Abstract

A study of 720 urology patients demonstrates preoperative serology for

hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibody to HBsAg, antibody to

hepatitis B core antigen, antibody to hepatitis C virus (HCV), and antibody

to HIV-1. An identical voluntary screening was also done among health care

workers in the urology department. The seroprevalence rate of viral

hepatitis among patients undergoing urologic surgery was not higher than

that of the general healthy population in the region. The screening of the

urology health care workers revealed a prevalent hepatitis B virus (HBV)

exposure rate and a higher seroprevalence of HBV carrier state and HCV

infection, compared with the general population. The adherence to universal

precautions should be emphasized among urology health care providers.

Introduction

Percutaneous exposure to hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV),

and HIV-1 represents an occupational risk to health care providers. Numerous

seroepidemiologic studies of patients attending emergency, general surgery,

and transplantation surgery clinics exist in the literature.1-3 Comparable

data relating to patients from a urology clinic, however, are scarce.

The purpose of this investigation was to describe the seroprevalence and

epidemiologic characteristics of HBV, HCV, and HIV-1 among patients

scheduled for elective urologic surgery. We aimed to define the frequency of

these viral markers and to assess the risk of infection associated with

urology patients, as compared with the general population. In addition, we

conducted a voluntary testing of HBV, HCV, and HIV-1 seroprevalence among a

cohort of urologists, nurses, and operating room personnel in the urology

department, whose occupations entailed frequent exposure to patients' blood

and body substances.

In our view, the emphasis on informational and educational programs about

reductions of infection risk needs to be specialty-specific. The data from

this study, therefore, may aid in setting effective prevention priorities

for urology departments and urology health care providers.

[Guest guest]

Infection Control

Serologic Evaluation for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV-1 of Surgical

Patients and Health Care Providers in a Urology Clinic

from Infections in Urology ®

Bora Ozveren, MD, Orkunt Ayaz, MD, Tufan Tarcan, MD, Bulent Erkurt, MD,

Levent Turkeri, MD, Atif Akdas, MD; Marmara University School of Medicine,

Istanbul, Turkey

Abstract and Introduction

Abstract

A study of 720 urology patients demonstrates preoperative serology for

hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibody to HBsAg, antibody to

hepatitis B core antigen, antibody to hepatitis C virus (HCV), and antibody

to HIV-1. An identical voluntary screening was also done among health care

workers in the urology department. The seroprevalence rate of viral

hepatitis among patients undergoing urologic surgery was not higher than

that of the general healthy population in the region. The screening of the

urology health care workers revealed a prevalent hepatitis B virus (HBV)

exposure rate and a higher seroprevalence of HBV carrier state and HCV

infection, compared with the general population. The adherence to universal

precautions should be emphasized among urology health care providers.

Introduction

Percutaneous exposure to hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV),

and HIV-1 represents an occupational risk to health care providers. Numerous

seroepidemiologic studies of patients attending emergency, general surgery,

and transplantation surgery clinics exist in the literature.1-3 Comparable

data relating to patients from a urology clinic, however, are scarce.

The purpose of this investigation was to describe the seroprevalence and

epidemiologic characteristics of HBV, HCV, and HIV-1 among patients

scheduled for elective urologic surgery. We aimed to define the frequency of

these viral markers and to assess the risk of infection associated with

urology patients, as compared with the general population. In addition, we

conducted a voluntary testing of HBV, HCV, and HIV-1 seroprevalence among a

cohort of urologists, nurses, and operating room personnel in the urology

department, whose occupations entailed frequent exposure to patients' blood

and body substances.

In our view, the emphasis on informational and educational programs about

reductions of infection risk needs to be specialty-specific. The data from

this study, therefore, may aid in setting effective prevention priorities

for urology departments and urology health care providers.

[Guest guest]

Infection Control

Serologic Evaluation for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV-1 of Surgical

Patients and Health Care Providers in a Urology Clinic

from Infections in Urology ®

Bora Ozveren, MD, Orkunt Ayaz, MD, Tufan Tarcan, MD, Bulent Erkurt, MD,

Levent Turkeri, MD, Atif Akdas, MD; Marmara University School of Medicine,

Istanbul, Turkey

Abstract and Introduction

Abstract

A study of 720 urology patients demonstrates preoperative serology for

hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibody to HBsAg, antibody to

hepatitis B core antigen, antibody to hepatitis C virus (HCV), and antibody

to HIV-1. An identical voluntary screening was also done among health care

workers in the urology department. The seroprevalence rate of viral

hepatitis among patients undergoing urologic surgery was not higher than

that of the general healthy population in the region. The screening of the

urology health care workers revealed a prevalent hepatitis B virus (HBV)

exposure rate and a higher seroprevalence of HBV carrier state and HCV

infection, compared with the general population. The adherence to universal

precautions should be emphasized among urology health care providers.

Introduction

Percutaneous exposure to hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV),

and HIV-1 represents an occupational risk to health care providers. Numerous

seroepidemiologic studies of patients attending emergency, general surgery,

and transplantation surgery clinics exist in the literature.1-3 Comparable

data relating to patients from a urology clinic, however, are scarce.

The purpose of this investigation was to describe the seroprevalence and

epidemiologic characteristics of HBV, HCV, and HIV-1 among patients

scheduled for elective urologic surgery. We aimed to define the frequency of

these viral markers and to assess the risk of infection associated with

urology patients, as compared with the general population. In addition, we

conducted a voluntary testing of HBV, HCV, and HIV-1 seroprevalence among a

cohort of urologists, nurses, and operating room personnel in the urology

department, whose occupations entailed frequent exposure to patients' blood

and body substances.

In our view, the emphasis on informational and educational programs about

reductions of infection risk needs to be specialty-specific. The data from

this study, therefore, may aid in setting effective prevention priorities

for urology departments and urology health care providers.

[Guest guest]

Infection Control

Serologic Evaluation for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV-1 of Surgical

Patients and Health Care Providers in a Urology Clinic

from Infections in Urology ®

Bora Ozveren, MD, Orkunt Ayaz, MD, Tufan Tarcan, MD, Bulent Erkurt, MD,

Levent Turkeri, MD, Atif Akdas, MD; Marmara University School of Medicine,

Istanbul, Turkey

Abstract and Introduction

Abstract

A study of 720 urology patients demonstrates preoperative serology for

hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibody to HBsAg, antibody to

hepatitis B core antigen, antibody to hepatitis C virus (HCV), and antibody

to HIV-1. An identical voluntary screening was also done among health care

workers in the urology department. The seroprevalence rate of viral

hepatitis among patients undergoing urologic surgery was not higher than

that of the general healthy population in the region. The screening of the

urology health care workers revealed a prevalent hepatitis B virus (HBV)

exposure rate and a higher seroprevalence of HBV carrier state and HCV

infection, compared with the general population. The adherence to universal

precautions should be emphasized among urology health care providers.

Introduction

Percutaneous exposure to hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV),

and HIV-1 represents an occupational risk to health care providers. Numerous

seroepidemiologic studies of patients attending emergency, general surgery,

and transplantation surgery clinics exist in the literature.1-3 Comparable

data relating to patients from a urology clinic, however, are scarce.

The purpose of this investigation was to describe the seroprevalence and

epidemiologic characteristics of HBV, HCV, and HIV-1 among patients

scheduled for elective urologic surgery. We aimed to define the frequency of

these viral markers and to assess the risk of infection associated with

urology patients, as compared with the general population. In addition, we

conducted a voluntary testing of HBV, HCV, and HIV-1 seroprevalence among a

cohort of urologists, nurses, and operating room personnel in the urology

department, whose occupations entailed frequent exposure to patients' blood

and body substances.

In our view, the emphasis on informational and educational programs about

reductions of infection risk needs to be specialty-specific. The data from

this study, therefore, may aid in setting effective prevention priorities

for urology departments and urology health care providers.