Viral hepatitis and the anaesthetist

Viral hepatitis is a constant hazard to all operating room personnel. The anaesthetist should avoid contact with patients’ blood and saliva as much as is possible.Hepatitis A (HAV) is spread mainly by faecalloral contact. Carriers are almost non-existent in this disease and the main importance to the anaesthetist is that he may contact a patient who is acutely infected or one who is incubating HAV. Diagnosis of postoperative hepatic dysfunction …