Transmission of Hepatitis B Virus From a Surgeon to his Patients During High-Risk and Low-Risk Surgical Procedures During 4 Years

Abstract

Transmission of HBV from surgeons to patients at a low rate can remain unnoticed for a long period of time. Prevention requires a more stringent strategy for vaccination and testing of surgeons and optimization of infectious disease surveillance. Policies allowing HBV-infected surgeons to perform presumably low-risk procedures should be reconsidered.