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High seroprevalence of IgG againstHelicobacter pylori among endoscopists in Taiwan

  • Esophageal, Gastric, And Duodenal Disorders
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Abstract

A prospective survey to investigate the seroprevalence of IgG againstHelicobacter pylori among endoscopists in Taiwan was conducted by analyzing blood samples of 70 study subjects and 64 nonendoscopist physicians with quantitative ELISA. Personal information and the practices of infection control related to gastroscopy examination were obtained by a self-administered questionnaire. Significant differences were detected in the IgG prevalence between study and control subjects (80.0% vs 51.6%;P<0.05). The serum level of antibody in endoscopists (385.2±36.1 unit/ml) was significantly higher than that of nonendoscopists (211.8±33.0 unit/ml;P=0.018). Endoscopists performing 30 or more sessions of gastroscopy per week had higher seroprevalence than those performing less than 30 sessions (90.9% vs 70.3%;P=0.0126). In conclusion, endoscopists in Taiwan had a high prevalence ofH. pylori infection. The cause might be related to the frequency of gastroscopies performed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. From the Departments of Internal Medicine and Clinical Laboratory, Kaohsiung Medical College Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

    Yu-Chung Su MD, Wen-Ming Wang MD, Li-Tzong Chen MD, Wen Chiang BS, Chang-Yi Chen MD, Sheng-Nan Lu MD &  Chang-Ming Jan MD

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  1. Yu-Chung Su MD
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Su, YC., Wang, WM., Chen, LT. et al. High seroprevalence of IgG againstHelicobacter pylori among endoscopists in Taiwan. Digest Dis Sci 41, 1571–1576 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02087902

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02087902

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