A case of acute hepatitis B related to previous gynecological surgery in Japan

J Infect Chemother. 2013 Jun;19(3):524-9. doi: 10.1007/s10156-012-0477-5. Epub 2012 Sep 26.

Abstract

A 41-year-old woman became ill with acute hepatitis B after gynecological surgery performed by a surgeon who was hepatitis B surface antigen positive. The surgeon was positive for hepatitis B e antigen, and HBV DNA concentrations in the serum, saliva, and sweat of the surgeon were very high. HBV genotype and partial HBV DNA sequences from the HBV-infected surgeon were identical to those in the HBV-infected patient. Extensive research by the committee including infection control and prevention specialists judged the source of infection to be a surgeon infected with HBV. Transmission of HBV from a healthcare worker to patients who are not immune to HBV can actually happen. This case report illustrates the importance of a stringent policy of a nationwide HBV universal vaccination program.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Base Sequence
  • Female
  • Gynecologic Surgical Procedures / adverse effects*
  • Hepatitis B / diagnosis
  • Hepatitis B / transmission*
  • Hepatitis B / virology
  • Hepatitis B virus / classification
  • Hepatitis B virus / genetics
  • Hepatitis B virus / isolation & purification
  • Humans
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Professional-to-Patient*
  • Japan
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA