Anti-HBs Antibodies over time in healthcare workers

Abstract

Background: In developing countries including India only 18 % HCWs are vaccinated against HBV. Inspite of all the recommendations, compliance to vaccination remain poor in majority of health care settings. Aims & Objectives: To estimate serum levels of anti-HBs antibodies in healthcare workers and to correlate the values of Anti-HBs level over time in health care workers. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on Health care workers of tertiary care hospital. Their demographic details and hepatitis B vaccination history was recorded as per performa. Serum samples of all the subjects were tested for Anti-HBs levels by VIDAS-PC equipment. Results: Out of the 294 HCWs enrolled, 84% (247) were fully vaccinated whereas 16%(47) were partially vaccinated. The vaccination rate was highest among nursing staff (74.9%) followed by doctors (13.8%). 3% of doctors and 12.4% of nurses are still at risk of acquiring HBV infection. On anti -HBs titer estimation, 9.7% of the HCWs had anti-HBs titer < 10 mIU/ml while 90.3% had titre > 10 mIU/ml. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that Hepatitis B immunization must be made compulsory for hospital staff in every health care setting as well as to check their anti HBs titres.

A prospective study on the quantification of anti-HBs antibody titers of vaccinated health care workers in a tertiary care teaching hospital by using automated enzyme linked fluorescent assay

“…22 In most of the prevalence studies from India, were recorded above 80% of HCWs were respondents to vaccination which ranges from 70% to 99.9%. 1,6 On estimation of anti-HBs antibodies, 9.7% had titer <10 mIU/ml and 90.3% with >10 mIU/ml, but in the present study, 62% with the titer of >12 mIU/ml were considered as responders and remaining 38% <8 mIU/ml were nonresponders in which there was no sufficient protective antibodies have been noted. 11 Most of the physicians were responders to the protective antibodies when compared to the CRRIs and other hospital staff including nursing assistants.…”

“…A similar study was also observed in Dehradun and Kerala with the involvement of 84-86% of fully vaccinated and 14-16% were partially vaccinated. 1,10,20 Glampaolo et al recorded the prevalence of anti-HBs antibodies 21.83% in uncovered trainees who vaccinated at age of 12 years old and followed by 45.03% who vaccinated in neonatal age. 14 Age factor will not be able to determine the production of protective antibodies during post vaccination.…”

“…Sharma et al, from Kerala, were estimated the protective levels of vaccination even after 5 years of duration but in this study, extremely limited to less than one year of duration and hence, it was 100% fully vaccinated for HBV. 1,21 Many of the studies have shown that the anti-HBs antibody titer correlates with the number of doses vaccinated, as well as with the subject age and gender either in elderly or at the age of 12 years. 22 In most of the prevalence studies from India, were recorded above 80% of HCWs were respondents to vaccination which ranges from 70% to 99.9%.…”

“…Globally, one third of the population have been infected with HBV and it was estimated by WHO worldwide. [1][2][3] Initiated the administration of hepatitis B vaccine to the health care professionals by the occupational safety and health administration (OSHA), who has been directly or indirectly exposed to the blood or other body fluids. The HBV vaccines should not be rescheduled when there is a delay of doses.…”

Seroconversion among healthcare workers vaccinated with hepatitis B vaccine of RIMS Hospital, Imphal, Manipur

“…Another study reported 92.5% and 83.3% protective titre within 5 years and more than five years, respectively [11] .…”