INTRODUCTION: Occupationally acquired hepatitis C viral infection is an important issue in surgery since there are no known vaccines or effective prophylaxis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An anonymous questionnaire survey was performed to determine the attitudes and perception of risks of occupational acquired hepatitis C viral transmission in orthopaedic surgeons. RESULTS: A total of 763 questionnaires were posted to orthopaedic surgeons with various subspecialty interests and 261 surgeons responded (34.2%). Of respondents, 117 (47%) had sustained sharps injuries in the previous 12 months. Only 82 surgeons (33%) always reported such injuries, although 208 (84%) expressed concerns of occupationally acquired hepatitis C viral transmission. Orthopaedic surgeons were mostly unaware of the true prevalence of hepatitis C in high-risk groups, such as intravenous drug abusers. CONCLUSIONS: Greater awareness of all aspects of hepatitis C infection and its risks to the practice of surgery is required. Further debate is necessary on the role of routine testing of surgeons and patients.
INTRODUCTION:Occupationally acquired hepatitis C viral infection is an important issue in surgery since there are no known vaccines or effective prophylaxis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An anonymous questionnaire survey was performed to determine the attitudes and perception of risks of occupational acquired hepatitis C viral transmission in orthopaedic surgeons. RESULTS: A total of 763 questionnaires were posted to orthopaedic surgeons with various subspecialty interests and 261 surgeons responded (34.2%). Of respondents, 117 (47%) had sustained sharps injuries in the previous 12 months. Only 82 surgeons (33%) always reported such injuries, although 208 (84%) expressed concerns of occupationally acquired hepatitis C viral transmission. Orthopaedic surgeons were mostly unaware of the true prevalence of hepatitis C in high-risk groups, such as intravenous drug abusers. CONCLUSIONS: Greater awareness of all aspects of hepatitis C infection and its risks to the practice of surgery is required. Further debate is necessary on the role of routine testing of surgeons and patients.
Authors: J I Tokars; D M Bell; D H Culver; R Marcus; M H Mendelson; E P Sloan; B F Farber; D Fligner; M E Chamberland; P S McKibben Journal: JAMA Date: 1992-06-03 Impact factor: 56.272
Authors: D Thorburn; K Roy; S O Cameron; J Johnston; S Hutchinson; E A B McCruden; P R Mills; D J Goldberg Journal: Gut Date: 2003-09 Impact factor: 23.059
Authors: Abdulmonem M Alsiddiky; Raheef Alatassi; Saad M Altamimi; Mahdi M Alqarni; Saud M Alfayez Journal: Medicine (Baltimore) Date: 2017-06 Impact factor: 1.889