Incidence of Hepatitis “B” in Patients Undergoing Operative Procedures at DHQ Hospital Faisalabad

Abstract

Incidence of hepatitis B was determined in patients undergoing
operative procedures in surgical wards of DHQ Hospital Faisalabad from 26 April
to 28 July, 2010. All the patients undergoing operative procedures were screened
for hepatitis B. In present study a total of 620 preoperative patients were screened
for hepatitis B among them 13 (2.09%) were positive for hepatitis B. The incidence
of hepatitis B was 38.5% in females and 61.5% in males respectively. The results
were compared with previous study conducted in other areas of Pakistan. As
comparisons, the result was somewhat similar with conducted study but also
shown some variation on the other hand. Precautions were also suggested to
protect the patients, patient family members and medical personnel or?who are at
high risk. Present study suggested that all patients must be routinely screened for
hepatitis B before going to surgery. Due to high incidence of hepatitis B in this
study, it is suggested that all patients who are admitted for any surgery must be
screened for hepatitis B. Those patients who found positive for hepatitis B by using
simple assay like rapid chromatography immunoassay must be confirmed by
ELISA technique. At the same time there must be ways to aware the people about
hepatitis B. Such hepatitis patients must be operated in separate operation theaters
in order to protect other patients who are at high risk.