Objective: The epidemiology of Helicobacter pylori infection is still under investigation, and the exact source of infection and its mode of transmission are still unknown. The purpose of this prospective study was to determine whether medical professionals in Spain, especially gastroenterologists and gastrointestinal endoscopists, have a higher prevalence of H. pylori infection.
Methods: Two hundred and twenty four medical professionals attending the annual gastroenterology meeting in Spain (176 men, 48 women; mean age, 41.8 +/- 11.4 years; range, 25-73 years) and a control group of 189 persons of similar age were investigated for the prevalence of H. pylori infection by using the 13C-urea breath test. All medical professionals completed a questionnaire regarding medical specialty and regular performing of gastrointestinal endoscopy procedures.
Results: The overall prevalence of H. pylori infection in total medical professionals was 52.7%, compared with 51.9% in the control group (P > 0.05). When specialty was considered, the prevalence of H. pylori infection among gastroenterologists was 53.3%, also not significantly higher than 50.0% among non-gastroenterologists (P > 0.05). There were no statistical differences of H. pylori prevalence among endoscopists and non-endoscopists.
Conclusions: Medical practice and, more specifically, gastroenterology and the regular performance of gastrointestinal endoscopy pose no additional risk for H. pylori infection in Spain.