NEW YORK, July 17 (Praxis Press) Cross-sectional epidemiologic studies have disagreed about the occupational risk of Helicobacter pylori infection among gastroenterologists. Hildebrand and colleagues performed a prospective, case-control study of 54 gastroenterologists and 103 controls who were negative for H. pylori infection at baseline (paper). Seven of the gastroenterologists acquired H. pylori infection during 270 person-years of follow-up, whereas only one of the controls acquired infection during 731 person-years of follow-up. All newly infected gastroenterologists wore gloves during endoscopy. If transmission of H. pylori occurs by aerosol route, wearing a face mask may protect against infection.