HPV DNA contamination was found in 20% of pre-filtered smoke evacuators, while no contamination was found in filtered air, indicating that the virus was pulled into the evacuator and effectively filtered by the system. Additionally, no HPV was detected on the skin of surgical doctors, indicating that smoke evacuators can adequately filter out HPV particles present in laser plumes.
Therefore, in addition to standard surgical precautions, dermatologists treating skin HPV lesions should use smoke evacuators within a 2-inch radius of the active laser to remove viral particles from the surgical field. This will prevent the development of warts and tumors in the oropharynx and throat caused by occupational exposure.
