Which nonhepatology departments are in urgent need of measures for treating patients positive for hepatitis virus?

Abstract

In eight regional core centers for liver disease management, we evaluated the status of HBs antigen (HBsAg) and anti-hepatitis C virus antibody (anti-HCV) testing from 2016 to 2020. Among nonhepatology departments, ophthalmology had the highest number of HBsAg and anti-HCV tests, followed by obstetrics and gynecology, and orthopedics. The highest positive rates of HBsAg were in orthopedics (1.27%), gastroenterological surgery (1.23%), and ophthalmology (1.04%), and those of anti-HCV were in gastroenterological surgery (2.71%), orthopedics (2.57%), and ophthalmology (2.51%). Thus, ophthalmology and orthopedics obtained the highest number of tests and positive rates, with no rate decrease over time. While the Japan Ophthalmologists Association has already commercialized measures against hepatitis, similar measures are needed urgently in orthopedics.