Despite the introduction of strict coercive measures for infection control measures, a relatively recent case of transmission of the hepatitis B virus from one patient to another during manipulations performed on the same day in the dental surgery department was registered in the United States.

This case was noted in a 60 year old patient suffering from pain and swelling in the joints, fatigue since February 2002 and the absence of traditional risk factors for infection with the hepatitis B virus, which noted that she had been operated on for dental surgery several months ago. plugged.

When verifying data from the State Department of Health on patients infected with the hepatitis B virus, the source of the infection was discovered - a patient infected with the hepatitis B virus who underwent surgery in the oral cavity of the dental surgery department two hours earlier the same day.

According to the data provided, the source of infection caused by the patient was chronic hepatitis B with a high viral load. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent test confirmed the identity of the two patients' viral DNA. A serological examination of 25 patients (93%) of the 27 patients operated on the same day after surgery at the source of the infection revealed that 19 out of 25 patients (76%) had already been vaccinated against hepatitis B.

In a detailed investigation of this case in the dental surgery department, it was found that all appropriate standard precautions to prevent transmission of pathogens through the blood were fully observed.

Transmission of hepatitis B virus infection in dental departments is rare. However, the hepatitis B virus can retain its properties at room temperature in a dry environment (for example, on the surfaces of medical devices or objects that have spilled blood) for 1 week or more, and may also present on surfaces in the absence of visible traces of blood.

The possibility of transmission of hepatitis B virus infection in various hospital departments is 100 times higher than the transmission of infection caused by the human immunodeficiency virus. The implementation of infection control measures has virtually eliminated variants of the nosocomial spread of infection caused by the hepatitis B virus. However, there are, however, reports of several similar cases in which the route of transmission remains unclear.

Researchers recommend that all adults under the age of 40 be vaccinated against hepatitis B virus infection, as well as an in-depth study of non-traditional infections when hepatitis B, HIV or hepatitis C are detected in patients without clearly defined risk factors.