Preoperative Virology Screening in the Kurdistan Region: Is it Necessary to be Routine? A Cross-sectional Descriptive Study

Introduction: In the context of Iraq, encompassing the Kurdistan region, which is characterized as a developing nation with limited resources, the prevalence of Hepatitis B virus (HBV), Hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is relatively low, as per World Health Organization (WHO) statistics. Despite this, preoperative virology screening is performed for all patients in the Kurdistan Region, regardless of the surgical procedure. Objective: This study aims to ascertain the seroprevalence rates of HBV, HCV, and HIV among pre-operative patients, assessing their significance and exploring the potential for selective rather than routine screening. Methodology: A retrospective cross-sectional descriptive study was undertaken, involving the collection of pre-operative virology screening test results from February and March 2023. The data were obtained from the laboratory departments at Maternity Teaching Hospital and Rozhhalat Emergency Hospital in Erbil, Kurdistan Region. A cluster sample comprising 3950 test results was compiled and analyzed using IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Results: Out of the total patient cohort, 0.53% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.33-0.81%) tested positive for HBsAg, 0.23% (95% CI: 0.10-0.43%) for anti-HCV antibody, and 0.076% (95% CI: 0.016-0.222%) for anti-HIV antibody/HIV antigen. Statistical analysis revealed no significant gender-based differences in the seropositivity for HBV, HCV, and HIV (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The observed low seroprevalence among pre-operative patients in the Kurdistan Region, coupled with existing constraints on health resources, suggests that routine pre-operative virology screening may not be cost-effective. Instead, a strategy involving selective screening, heightened awareness among healthcare personnel of these viruses, and strict adherence to standard precautions is imperative and potentially adequate.