By PAUL HARASIM / RJ
A number of veterans as
well as doctors now
believe that Vietnam
veterans...could have
contracted hepatitis C
through unsafe jet gun
vaccinations.
While it’s possible the government’s position on transmission of hepatitis C among boomers may have resulted in less testing, it’s critical today boomers forget any fears of stigma and get the easy blood test.
Most
healthcare workers who have transmitted to patients have
several factors in common (Exs. 6-476; 6-471):
(1) The dentists and surgeons were chronic HBV carriers, had high
titers of virus in their blood (HBeAg positive), and were
unaware that they were infected.
(2) Transmission occurred most frequently during the most traumatic procedures.
(3) The dental personnel who transmitted did not routinely wear
gloves. However, some infected HCWs continued to transmit HBV
to patients in spite of the use of gloves and additional
precautions.
(4) The dentists and surgeons often had a personal medical problem
(such as exudative dermatitis on the hands), or used
techniques that made transmission more likely. Several of the
gynecologists used their index fingers to feel for the tip of
the suture needle when they were performing deep abdominal surgery. http://www.osha-slc.gov/Preamble/Blood_data/BLOOD4.html
