Hepatitis B virus infection and waste collection: Prevalence, risk factors, and infection pathway

Abstract

Occupational exposure to waste is a possible risk factor for HBV infection. Occupational injury with sharp instruments could be a means of hepatitis B virus transmission. Immunization of MSWWs and adoption of more safe ways for waste collection could be considered in order to control the risk of HBV infection.

Epidemiology of hepatitis B virus infection among recyclable waste collectors in central Brazil

“…Occupational exposure to waste is a possible risk factor for HBV infection, and injury with needle sticks/sharp instruments could be associated with this infection 13 . A high prevalence of HBV infection (34.4%) was found among recyclable waste resULTs Between April 2010 and May 2011, recyclable waste pickers were recruited from all recycling cooperatives, and all individuals were invited to participate in this study.…”

Hepatitis B and C in household and health services solid waste workers

“…These studies show the vulnerability of the workers who are exposed to infection without the appropriate immunization 5,21,22,26,29 .…”

“…Six of the studies concluded that workers collecting urban solid waste are exposed to greater risk when compared with those who have no exposure 19,21,22,23,24,25 , although one study found no such additional risk 5 . With regard to health care waste, three studies indicate higher risk among those collecting than those working with urban solid waste 26,27,28 , and a fourth study found none 29 .…”

“…Two reviews of the literature were found, one of which 12 focused on studies of hepatitis A and B in workers who handled waste, but only one of the papers identified involved an epidemiological study 19 ; another review 20 selected five crosssectional studies, of which four correspond with papers in Table 1 19,21,22,23 .…”

Prevalence of Accident at Work among garbage collectors in Asunción, Paraguay. 2013-2014

“…En otros estudios se buscó asociación entre el trabajo y las enfermedades infecciosas (hepatitis A Hepatitis B, Toxoplasmosis, Leptospirosis) (7) relacionándolos con aerosoles infecciosos (8,9). Otras publicaciones encontraron datos de exposición a riesgos biológicos, químicos, físicos, ergonómicos, aspectos psicosociales (10); en otras se buscaron condiciones de salud, afecciones respiratorias y ergonómicas (11)(12)(13).…”