Occupational risk of gastrointestinal Helicobacter pylori infection among medical and dental staff: a systematic review

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is one of the most prevalent infectious diseases worldwide. Dental plaque and saliva are major reservoirs for this microorganism, and some studies have shown that oral‒oral transmission is possible through close contact between physicians and dentists and their patients. This study aimed to investigate the occupational risk of gastrointestinal H. pylori infection among physicians and dentists. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science was conducted up to May 1st 2025. Irrelevant articles were excluded in three stages on the basis of their title, abstract, and full text. Finally, data were extracted following predefined eligibility criteria, and methodological quality was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. A total of 28 primary studies were ultimately included (21 in the medical group and 7 in the dental group). The prevalence of H. pylori infection ranged from 6.8 to 77.2% in the medical group and 16.67‒70% in the dental group. In 16 of the articles (13 from the medical group and 3 from the dental group), the H. pylori infection rate was reported to be higher in healthcare workers than in the control group. Current evidence indicates a potential occupational association among healthcare workers. However, the existing evidence is not sufficient for a definitive conclusion, and more well-designed cohort studies are needed, particularly among dentists. Not applicable.