Antibody to Hepatitis B Surface Antigen in Vaccinated Health Care Workers

Abstract

Background: Health care workers (HCWs) in Armed Forces are immunised against Hepatitis B virus (HBV), however they are not subjected to anti-HBs (antibody to Hepatitis B surface antigen) assessment after primary vaccination. The present study was undertaken to determine the protection offered by HBV vaccine in HCW. Methods: Cross-sectional study was carried out at tertiary care hospital. A total 146 HBV vaccine compliant HCW were evaluated for quantitative anti-HBs by enzyme immune assay. Result: 129 (88.4%) subjects had protective levels of anti-HBs. Higher age at vaccination was an important risk factor in low vaccine response. Decline in anti-HBs with time was evident. Anti-HBs levels were more than 10mIU/ml in subjects even after 11 years of primary vaccination. There was no difference in protection in booster and non booster groups. Conclusion:Age is the most important factor in HBV vaccine response. Booster dose of HBV vaccine is not necessary in healthy HCW for atleast ten years after primary vaccination. The study recommends early primary vaccination of HCW and 'initial' antiHBs assay for confirmation of vaccine response.

B Cell-mediated Humoral Immunity in Chronic Hepatitis B Infection

“…13 It is considered that those individuals with an anti-HBs concentration of ≥10 mIU/mL were immune against HBV infection, while those with an anti-HBs concentration of <10 mIU/mL might re-quire an additional booster vaccine dose. [14][15][16] The specific antibodies against different HBV protein components are one of the major approaches for B cells to be involved in anti-HBV infection, such as antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc), antibody to hepatitis B e antigen (anti-HBe) and anti-HBs. Anti-HBc and anti-HBe serve as diagnostic biomarkers for HBV infection, while anti-HBs antibody is the only antibody that can specifically recognize and bind to HBsAg, 17,18 thus serving an important role in HBsAg clearance.…”

“… 13 It is considered that those individuals with an anti-HBs concentration of ≥10 mIU/mL were immune against HBV infection, while those with an anti-HBs concentration of <10 mIU/mL might require an additional booster vaccine dose. 14 – 16 …”

Assessment of immune response to Hepatitis B vaccine by estimation of anti - HBs antibody titer among immunized health care workers

“…Although the percentage of female protective responders was greater (85.5%) compared to male protective responders (75.9%), the association of anti-HBs status and gender was not statistically significant. Ashmaki et al, Chaudhari et al observed that anti-HBs titer due to gender factor was not statistically significant [22,23]. Also research studies have reported increased percentage of non-protective responders among males as compared to females [24,25].…”

Hepatitis B Surface Antibody Levels among Health-Care Personnel Vaccinated against Hepatitis B in a Teaching Hospital in South India

“…in their study among HCP in armed forces showed a 93.8% response in participants <30 years compared to only 77.5% response in those who were >30 years of age. [ 19 ] Gara et al . (2014) tested anti-HBs levels at a clinical center in Bethesda and concluded that anti-HBs levels decrease after 10–31 years and fall below a level considered protective in approximately 25% of HCWs.…”