[Comparing helicobacter pylori infection between dentistry and pharmacy students in Tehran]

ABSTRACT

The route of person-to-person transmission of helicobacter pylori may be either fecal-oral or oral-oral, because the bacterium is found in both dental plaque and feces. We assessed the prevalence of H. pylori, which reflects present or past infection in dental students exposed occupationally to dental plaque. We examined the sera of 68 dental students and residents [24 residents and 44 students] and 69 age-matched controls by using quantitative ELISA for antibodies of lgG class to H. pylori. The proportion of dental group seropositive for H. pylori was [39 of 68] 57.4%, the proportion of control group seropositive for H. pylori was [40 of 69] 58%. There was no significant difference between groups. We conclude that dental practice in dental students does not increase the risk of H.pylori infection