Prevalence of hepatitis B serologic markers in community hospital personnel.

Abstract

The seroprevalence of hepatitis B markers among predominantly high-risk staff members and personnel of 31 community hospitals located throughout the United States was 8.4 per cent (25 per cent in 25 hospitals and -10 per cent in 13 hospitals). Only two hospitals had seroprevalence rates s3 per cent. The institutional seroprevalence ranged from 0 per cent to 16.7 per cent, with a median of 8.2 per cent. Although there are limitations to this survey, the results suggest that the well established increased risk of contracting HBV infection among certain groups of health-care workers in urban teaching medical centers may also hold true for personnel in similar occupational and professional categories in community hospitals. (Am J Public Health 1987; 77:998-999.)

Prevalence of hepatitis B markers among hospital workers in Senegal

“…Therefore, caring for infected patients will increase the risk of HBV infection. This has been well documented in several studies IDienstag and Ryan, 1982;West, 1984;Pantelick et al, 1981;Lewis et al, 1973;McLean et al, 1987;Storch et al, 1985;Reingold et al, 19881. Based on surveys among children in Dakar, 80% of the population become infected at a young age [Barin et al, 19811. Our estimate of past HBV infection a t time ofjoining the hospital was lower (74%) and may reflect a difference in socioeconomic status among the population surveyed.…”

“…Several studies have reported that health care workers, particularly those with frequent blood exposure, are a t high risk for acquiring viral hepatitis B [Dienstag and Ryan, 1982;West, 1984;Pantelick et al, 1981;Lewis et al, 1973;McLean et al, 1987;Storch et al, 1985;Reingold et a]., 19881. Since hepatitis B vaccine has become available, its use had been advocated for this group in many developed countries.…”

Deaths Due to Bloodborne Infections and Their Sequelae Among Health‐Care Workers

“…This evidence includes seroprevalence studies, performed in the 1970s through early 1990s, that show a much higher prevalence of markers for HBV infection among health-care workers than among the general public and at least one prospective surveillance study showing an increased incidence of new infections among health-care workers compared to controls. Nurses and other personnel with frequent blood contact had the greatest risk of serologic evidence of HBV [Pattison et al, 1975;Janzen et al, 1978;McLean et al, 1987;Gibas et al, 1992;Thomas et al, 1993;Panlilio et al, 1995].…”