Editorial: Should HBV or HCV positive surgeons refrain from operating

Viruses like hepatitis B, C and HIV spread by blood and blood fluids. Health care professionals including surgeons and all those who perform exposure-prone procedures are at risk of contracting these blood-borne viruses, but they generally do not recognize or report these potential exposures due to reluctance to report sharps injuries, or to present for testing for blood-borne virus transmission, for fear of being barred from surgical practice. Although surgeons may fear transmission of HIV in particular, it is hepatitis C that poses the greatest risk.