Soroepidemiologia da infecção pelo Vírus da hepatite B (VHB) e pelo Vírus da hepatite C (VHC) em cirurgiões-dentistas da cidade de Belém, Pará

Abstract

Viral hepatitides represent an important problem of public health in Brazil and in the world. Hepatitis B and hepatitis C are the most interesting for health professionals due to the form of transmission and the possibility of occupational acquisition. The present work intended, as its main objective, to verify the seroprevalence of the infection by the Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and by the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) in surgeon-dentists, and to relate it to risk factors. 97 surgeon-dentists, 39 males and 58 females, who work in the city of Belém, Pará, Brazil, participated in the study, from June to December of 2005. Epidemiologic data have been obtained by inquiries and the serologic ones by an immunoenzymatic assay for research on antigen and antibody for both the HBV and the HCV. The trend test was used for statistical analysis of the results. The prevalence of the HBV was of 6,2%, and the HCV was of 3,1% among the studied population. Out of the seroreactive samples to the markers of hepatitis B, the prevalence was of 1,03% (1/97) for total anti-HBc, 5,16% (5/97) for the simultaneous presence of total anti-HBc and anti-HBs, and 54,61% (53/97) for anti-HBs. When compared to the data found in the population of blood donors in the State of Pará, the prevalence of the HCV in the studied population was significantly higher, while the prevalence of the HBV was similar. Moreover, 37,7% (36/97) reported having had some type of occupational exposition, and accidents with cutting and piercing objects was the major cause (86,1%). The procedure after the exposition was always washing the wound with water and soap, and only 2,8% (1/36) of the victims reported the accomplishment of serologic tests. Knowledge of biosafety norms and the usage of at least one barrier of individual protection were stated by all dentists. The usage of gloves and masks was the most reported reply (96,9%). 54,61% (53/97) of the surgeon-dentists were immunized by HBV vaccination; 5,16% (5/97) were immunized by natural infection. The high percentage of occupational accidents, allied with the low post-exposition seroconversion amongst the surgeon-dentists, demonstrates the need of knowing the prevalence of infections of occupational risk in health professionals so that more efficient and effective prevention and control measures against the causing agents can be adopted.