Orthopedic surgeons are at risk for occupationally acquired infections with blood borne pathogens.
Objective: To estimate the prevalence of infection with HBV, HCV, CMV and HIV among orthopedic surgeons.
Design: Voluntary, anonymous serosurvey at an annual meeting of Polish Association of Orthopedic Surgeons held in Szczecin, Poland in 2004. Serum samples were tested for anti-HIV, anti-CMV IgG, anti-HCV and markers of HBV infection: anti-HBc total and HBs.
Results: Of 1000 eligible orthopedic surgeons at the meeting, 101 (10.4%) participated; 75% participants reported a percutaneous blood contact in the previous month. None of the doctors was positive for HIV (0%, 95% CI:0-3.7%). One participant (1%, 95% CI: 0.2-5.4%), 26 years in profession, had anti-HCV. There was evi-dence of infection with HBV in 10 of 96 participants (10.4%) who had reported having no nonoccupational risk factors and in 5 participants with such factors. None of them developed a chronic infection. Only 5 out of 15 doctors infected with HBV knew their serological status, 13 out of those 15 had been immunized with hepatitis B vaccine, 4 revaccinated. The immunization rate was 91%. The seroprevalence for CMV was 63/101 (62%); it increased with age (p < 0.0003).
Conclusions: Despite infection control precautions and availability of hepatitis B vaccine, orthopedic surgeons remain at risk for acquiring bloodborne viral infection. CMV poses the highest risk, followed by HBV and HCV. As the majority of HBV infected doctors did not know their serological status and underwent immunization with hepatitis B vaccine, testing for anti-HBc before vaccination remains crucial.