Patient-to-patient transmission of hepatitis B virus associated with oral surgery

J Infect Dis. 2007 May 1;195(9):1311-4. doi: 10.1086/513435. Epub 2007 Mar 21.

Abstract

We used molecular epidemiologic techniques to document patient-to-patient transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) between 2 outpatient oral surgery patients operated on 161 min apart. Serological testing of 25 (93%) of 27 patients operated on after the source patient revealed that 19 (76%) of 25 were previously immune to HBV; no additional cases were identified. We found no deficiencies in infection control practices. Transmission may have been limited by the high prevalence (64%) of patients vaccinated against HBV. To our knowledge, this is the first documented case of patient-to-patient transmission of a bloodborne pathogen in a dental setting in the United States.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Dentistry
  • Disease Transmission, Infectious*
  • Female
  • Hepatitis B / blood
  • Hepatitis B / epidemiology
  • Hepatitis B / etiology
  • Hepatitis B / prevention & control
  • Hepatitis B / transmission*
  • Hepatitis B virus / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Iatrogenic Disease*
  • Infection Control
  • Middle Aged
  • New Mexico / epidemiology
  • Oral Surgical Procedures / adverse effects*
  • Vaccination