Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Performing fiberoptic bronchoscopy has many risks for the bronchoscopy personnel. May be the most important risk is the transmission of tuberculosis bacilli from the patient to the bronchoscopy personnel. In addition, transmission of blood-borne viruses such as hepatitis B, HCV and HIV might be the other important risk for the bronchoscopy personnel particularly for the bronchoscopist. Splash of bronchial secretions to conjunctiva might be considered as the main route of transmission. Non-intact skin exposure might be the second route.
AIM: The aim this study was to investigate the ratio of the patients having positive results for blood-borne viruses undergoing bronchoscopy before the procedure.
METHOD: We retrospectively screened the medical files/records of the patients undergoing bronchoscopy procedure between May 2011 and January 2012.
RESULTS: There were 183 patients with a bronchoscopy indication. Mean age was 35±17. 123 patients had HBsAg, anti-HCV and anti-HIV test results. HBsAg was positive in five patients (4%). Anti-HCV and anti-HIV test results of all the patients were negative.
DISCUSSION: In our country, different results for HBsAg positivity, between 2%-10%, were reported in different studies. Our results are similar the results of these studies. A ratio of 4% HBsAg positivity should not be seen as a small ratio. Absence of anti-HCV and anti-HIV positivity might be attributed to the small number of study group.
CONCLUSION: This study suggests that bronchoscopy personnel are under the risk of hepatitis B transmission. Large studies are needed to indicate the transmission risk of blood-born viruses for the bronchoscopy personnel.
- © 2012 ERS