Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Health Care Workers in Albania: a Country still Highly Endemic for HBV Infection.

Autor: Kondili, L. A., Ulqinaku, D., Hajdini, M., Basho, M., Chionne, P., Madonna, E., Taliani, G., Candido, A., Dentico, P., Bino, S., Rapicetta, M.
Předmět:
Zdroj: Infection; Apr2007, Vol. 35 Issue 2, p94-97, 4p, 1 Chart, 1 Graph
Abstrakt: Health care workers (HCW) have an elevated risk of acquiring and transmitting parenteral infections. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) markers with the final goal to encourage HBV vaccination of the non-immune Albanian HCW. Among 480 HCW enrolled, 92 were physicians, 246 were nurses/techniques, 120 were auxiliary workers and 22 were office workers. The HBsAg, anti-HBc and anti-HCV prevalence were 8.1%, 70% and 0.6%, respectively. The highest (11.4%) HBsAg prevalence was observed in the youngest age group (20–30 years of age). High HBsAg prevalence (7.2–7.5%) was detected also in age groups above 30 years. The highest HBsAg prevalence (12.6%) was found in the auxiliaries. The anti-HBc prevalence increased significantly with age from 59% in HCWs younger than 39 years to 87% among those older than 50 years. After adjustments for different job categories, age older than 40 years remained independently associated with anti-HBc positivity (OR = 2.9; 95% CI 1.9–4.6) and inversely associated with the lack of HBV immunity or infection markers (OR = 0.4; 95% CI 0.2–0.7). Of 142 HBsAg negative and/or anti-HBc Ab negative sera, 28 (20%) tested positive for anti-HBs. The 114 remaining individuals with no HBV infection or immunity markers were vaccinated against HBV infection. A high HBV infection rate and low HBV vaccination coverage were found in Albanian HCW. Albania is a Mediterranean country still highly endemic for HBV infection and new strategies to promote HBV vaccination are to be adopted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Databáze: Complementary Index
Externí odkaz: