HBsAg Transmission from a Cardiac Surgeon Incubating Hepatitis B Resulting in Chronic Antigenemia in Four Patients

A cardiac surgeon experienced an uneventful course of acute hepatitis B. HBsAg was transmitted to 11 persons: 5 of 72 patients operated on during his incubation of hepatitis B, three relatives of the infected patients, one laboratory technician, and two of the surgeon's family members. Two years later, 4 of the 5 operated patients are still infectious, whereas the 7 non-operated persons have cleared their antigenemia. This study demonstrates the significant risk of hepatitis B transmission from a cardiac surgeon incubating the disease. Furthermore, it indicates that patients who have been infected during open heart surgery and cardiopulmonary bypass run a particular risk of becoming chronic HBs antigen carriers.