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. 2009 Dec 23:6:228.
doi: 10.1186/1743-422X-6-228.

Factors associated with seroprevalence of hepatitis C among dentists at a large Brazilian city

Vera Lúcia S Resende  1 , Mauro Henrique G Abreu, Saul M Paiva, Rosângela Teixeira, Isabela A Pordeus
Affiliations

Factors associated with seroprevalence of hepatitis C among dentists at a large Brazilian city

Vera Lúcia S Resende et al. Virol J. .

Abstract

Background: The aim of the present study was to investigate the seroprevalence and sociodemographic data, health-related and occupational factors and other correlates of sero-posivity among dentists in the city of Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out with 1302 dentists in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. All dentists were tested for anti-HCV using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Individuals positive for anti-HCV were recalled for further evaluation. The presence of HCV RNA in anti-HCV-positive samples was assessed using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Data on demographic, behavioural and occupational exposure aspects were collected through questionnaires.

Results: The seroprevalence of anti-HCV was 0.9% (95% IC 0.5-1.7%). The factors associated to the prevalence of hepatitis C were history of blood transfusion (p = 0.002) and having undergone a test for hepatitis C (p = 0.015).

Conclusions: The seroprevalence of anti-HCV among dentists is low. Moreover, no occupational exposure was associated to the seroprevalence of hepatitis C.

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