Increasing hepatitis B vaccination coverage among healthcare workers in Italy 10 years apart

Stroffolini, T.; Coppola, Rosa; Carvelli, C; D'Angelo, Tonino; Masi, Salvatore; Maffei, Carlos Eduardo Moreira; Marzolini, Fabrizio; Ragni, Pietro; Cotichini, Rodolfo; Zotti, Carla Maria; Mele, Alfonso

doi:10.1016/j.dld.2007.10.012

Cited by 26 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 5 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Several other studies have assessed lower vaccination rates among HCWs in Southern Italy than in the northern regions, but in our opinion these works underestimated this trend. In fact, in Southern Italy overall vaccine coverage has been documented to have increased from 44.3% in a survey conducted in 1996 (7), to 77.7% in another survey conducted in 2006 (11), however, our findings are much lower than these results. Moreover, taking into account the introduction of the compulsory-by-law HBV vaccination in Italy for all newborns in 1981 and 12-year-old children in 1991, as well as HCWs vaccinated only after a percutaneous exposure incident, we can conclude that compliance rates to the vaccination against HBV among HCWs in Southern Italy at the start of their employment, considered as a positive attitude towards the vaccination program, were even lower.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 98%

Long-Term Persistence of Seroprotection by Hepatitis B Vaccination in Healthcare Workers of Southern Italy

Grosso¹,

Mistretta²,

Marventano³

et al. 2012

Hepat Mon

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BackgroundThe impact of hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination campaigns on HBV epidemiology needs to be evaluated, in order to assess the long-term immunity offered by vaccines against HBV.ObjectivesTo evaluate the current status of anti-HBV vaccine coverage among healthcare workers (HCWs) in Southern Italy, and to determine the long-term persistence of antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigens (anti-HBs) in such a cohort of subjects.Patients and MethodsA longitudinal, retrospective seroepidemiological survey was conducted among 451 HCWs, who were working at or visiting, the Occupational Health Department of a city hospital, in Catania, Italy, between January 1976 and December 2010.ResultsAt the 30-year follow-up (mean follow-up 10.15 ± 5.96 years, range 0.74-30), 261 HCWs had detectable anti-HBs titers indicating a persistence of seroprotection of 89.4% (out of 292 anti-HBs positive results, three months after vaccination). An inadequate vaccination schedule was the strongest predictor of antibody loss during follow-up (OR = 8.37 95% CI: 5.41-12.95, P < 0.001). A Kaplan-Maier survival curve revealed that the persistence of anti-HBs 30 years after vaccination, was 92.2% for high responders, while it was only 27.3% for low responders (P = 0.001).ConclusionsA good level of seroprotection persisted in 57.9% of the subjects after 30 years. Factors related to this immunization status confirmed the importance of vaccinating HCWs early in their careers and ensuring an adequate vaccination schedule. However, with particular reference to the low rate of hepatitis B vaccine coverage among HCWs in Southern Italy, the implementation of a new educational intervention as part of an active vaccination program is needed.

show abstract

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 98%

Long-Term Persistence of Seroprotection by Hepatitis B Vaccination in Healthcare Workers of Southern Italy

Grosso¹,

Mistretta²,

Marventano³

et al. 2012

Hepat Mon

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…24 Poor knowledge and underestimation of the occupational hazards to infect healthcare staff (largely the ancillary workers) and fi nancial reasons (irregular provision of vaccines) infl uence the level of vaccine protected subjects. The immunization coverage of healthcare workers reported by authors abroad is signifi cantly higher: Poland -100% 25 , Italy 85.3% 26 , Brazil 86.4% 27 . Our coverage rate is similar to that in Pakistan -64.6% 28 , and Syria -56.1% 3 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…By length of experience, the subjects were divided in 3 groups: group I -less than 5 years (n = 119), group II -5-10 years (n = 103) and group III -more than 10 years (n = 458). By place of work they were allocated into 7 groups: clinics of surgery (424), clinics of obstetrics and gynecology (96), intensive care units (54), internal diseases clinics (34), burn treatment centres (32), hemodialysis centres (26) and toxicology departments (14). Occupational risk exposure was defi ned as recommended by CDC (2001): an exposure is a percutaneous injury (e.g., needlestick or other cut with a sharp object), or contact of mucous membrane or nonintact skin (e.g., chapped or abraded skin, skin dermatitis) with blood or certain other potentially infectious body fl uids that take place at work.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A survey of occupational risk exposures and behaviour of healthcare workers

Kevorkyan

Petrova²,

Angelova³

2012

Folia Medica

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

To reduce the risk of transmission of microorganisms standard precautions are taken for all patients expected to be exposed to blood, body fl uids, or have contacts with mucous membranes and non-intact skin. These preventive measures are by far the best way to protect healthcare workers from adverse infections. AIM: To analyze occupational risk exposure of healthcare workers occurring when the latter come into contact with blood or other potentially infectious liquid in order to assess some aspects of the application of standard preventive measures. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 680 healthcare workers (186 physicians, 330 nurses, and 164 hospital orderlies) were included in an anonymous survey conducted at St George University Hospital, Plovdiv in 2009. The questionnaire consisted of 14 questions grouped in 3 clusters. Occupational risk exposure was defi ned as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). We used descriptive statistics, parametric and non-parametric analysis. RESULTS: Occupational exposure was reported by 81% of the respondents for the last year with predominance of percutaneous injuries (62%). Nurses sustained the most risk exposures (86%). We found a correlation between the job category and the occupational exposure (χ 2 = 14.3, df = 2, р < 0.001). No correlation was found between length of service and injury intensity (χ 2 = 1.69, df = 2, р > 0.05). Immunisation against hepatitis virus B infection received 64.3 ± 3.8% of the healthcare personnel. Immunization covered 48.2% of the ancillary workers, which is less than the mean coverage for the respondents. Job position was found to correlate with the immunisation coverage (χ 2 = 24.41, df = 2, р < 0.001). Ninety-two percent of the healthcare workers used personal protective equipment (disposable gloves), but only 74.6% of them did this during emergencies (р < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Post-exposure follow-ups and the overall behaviour pattern after occupational risk exposure are random and non-systematic in nature. A better prevention of healthcare personnel would require a long-term training with constant knowledge upgrading, invasive procedures perfection and permanent control.

show abstract

“…Jaundice develops in less than 10% of children under 5 years and in more than 50% of older children and adults. The universal HBV vaccination currently covers the Italian subject under 35 and, occurring only in subjects over 35, AHB is frequently severe and seldom show a fulminant course . Occasionally, extrahepatic features may complicate the clinical presentation, reflecting immune complex‐related damage such as acute necrotizing vasculitis, membranous glomerulonephritis and papular acrodermatitis in children .…”

Section: Hbv Epidemiology In Italymentioning

confidence: 99%

What is changed in HBV molecular epidemiology in Italy?

Lai

Sagnelli

Presti³

et al. 2018

Journal of Medical Virology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection represents the most common cause of chronic liver diseases worldwide. Consequently, to the introduction of the universal HBV vaccination program, the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen was markedly reduced and less than 1% of the population of Western Europe and North America is chronically infected. To date, despite great advances in therapeutics, HBV chronic infection is considered an incurable disease. Ten hepatitis B virus genotypes (A-J) and several subgenotypes have been identified so far, based on intergroup divergences of 8% and 4%, respectively, in the complete viral genome. HBV-D genotype has been found throughout the world, with highest prevalence in the Mediterranean area. In the present review, several articles concerning HBV epidemiology, and phylogeny in Italy have been analyzed, mainly focusing on the changes occurred in the last decade.

show abstract

Increasing hepatitis B vaccination coverage among healthcare workers in Italy 10 years apart

Cited by 26 publications

References 5 publications

Long-Term Persistence of Seroprotection by Hepatitis B Vaccination in Healthcare Workers of Southern Italy

Long-Term Persistence of Seroprotection by Hepatitis B Vaccination in Healthcare Workers of Southern Italy

A survey of occupational risk exposures and behaviour of healthcare workers

What is changed in HBV molecular epidemiology in Italy?

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About