Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori antibodies in endoscopy personnel and non-medical volunteers of Karachi

Abstract

Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) is high in developing countries. As endoscopy personnel are at greater risk of exposure to gastric secretions, they are apparently at higher risk of acquiring this infection. The aim of this study was to determine prevalence of Hp antibodies in endoscopy staff and compare it with non-medical volunteers and assess any additional risk of occupational exposure to Hp in the former group. Thirty-three subjects working in endoscopy suites of different hospitals of Karachi and 33 non-medical volunteers were investigated for the prevalence of Hp antibodies by using a commercially available rapid qualitative test (FlexPack HP; Abbott). The two groups were comparable in mean age, sex and social class. Twenty-six of 33 (79%) of the endoscopy personnel and 19/33 (58%) of the non-medical volunteers were positive for Hp serology (p = 0.06 R.R 1.37). Among the endoscopy personnel 13/14 (93%) of endoscopy assistants were positive and this subgroup had a significantly higher prevalence of Hp antibodies as compared to the control group (p = 0.019). No correlation could be found between the positive serology and symptoms of dyspepsia.