Prevalence of hepatitis B virus markers in municipal solid waste workers in Keratsini (Greece)

Abstract

Occupational exposure to waste is possibly associated with the acquisition of HBV infection. Immunization of MSWWs should be considered to reduce the risk of HBV infection.

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 .…”

“…This limits the representativeness of the study population. Considering prevalence for exposed and non-exposed subjects, seven studies 5,19,21,22,24,25,29 did not have a sufficient sample size to ensure statistical significance, according to Kelsey et al 30 .…”

“…Five studies 5,19,21,22,25 included workers in activities not associated with waste collection as the control group. Other studies 26,27,28,29 included household waste collectors as the control group.…”

“…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 .…”