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Assessing State Variation on Plastic Surgeons' Risk of Exposure to Hepatitis C
Cody L. Mullens; Kristen M. Hardy; Ian L. McCulloch; Aaron C. Mason
West Virginia University School of Medicine
2019-01-08
Presenter: Cody L. Mullens
Affidavit:
I certify that the material proposed for presentation in this abstract has not been published in any scientific journal or previously presented at a major meeting. The program director is responsible for making a statement within the confines of the box below specific to how much of the work on this project represents the original work of the resident.
Director Name: Aaron C. Mason
Author Category: Medical Student
Presentation Category: Clinical
Abstract Category: General Reconstruction
Introduction: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a blood-borne viral infection that has considerable morbidity. As the opioid epidemic escalates, rates of HCV diagnoses have similarly risen. Surgeons exposed intraoperatively due to sharp-sticks are affected both socioeconomically and physically. Current treatment strategies involve antiretroviral agents that are not universally available. This study evaluates the current risk of plastic surgeon exposure to HCV.
Methods: CDC data regarding state-by-state HCV diagnosis reporting was combined with plastic surgery workforce data from the American Society of Plastic Surgery. Proxy variables for exposure risk to HCV were generated for each state and compared.
Results: West Virginia plastic surgeons were found to have a significantly elevated risk of exposure (60.0 vs. 18.7, p<.0001). Their exposure risk is a major outlier compared to the rest of the country (Risk>3 x IQR+75th percentile). States within the Ohio Valley were found to be at increased risk (34.8 vs. 16.0, p=.05). States most heavily burdened by the opioid crisis were found to be at an increased risk for HCV exposure (40.8 vs. 13.6, p=.0003).
Discussion: Plastic surgeons who work in states within the Ohio Valley region were found to be at an increased risk of exposure to HCV. Plastic surgeons operating in states severely impacted by the opioid crisis were also found to be at increased risk of exposure. These findings underscore the importance of reducing the risk in the operating room and the need for better data collection to better understand this association and mitigate risk to the operating surgeon.
