Hepatitis B infection among dental personnel in Pune & Bombay (India)

Abstract

To assess the risk of hepatitis B infection among dental personnel, serum samples were collected from dentists of Pune and students, staff, auxiliary staff and class D staff of a dental college in Bombay. Dentists (32.02%), dental auxiliary staff (35.89%), clinical assistants and post-graduate students (19.56%) were found to have significantly higher prevalence of HBV infection as compared to undergraduate dental students (3.94%). The prevalence of HBV infection was high among the dentists as compared to voluntary donors. A positive linear association was observed in the positivity of HBV seromarkers with increasing age and number of years spent by the workers in the dental environment. The rate of increase in HBV seropositivity with age was higher (P less than 0.05) among dental personnel when compared to voluntary donors. Vaccination against hepatitis B is recommended for all the dental students before they start their clinical phase and for susceptible dentists and dental auxillary staff.