Seroprevalence of hepatitis B and C viruses among medical waste handlers at Gondar town Health institutions, Northwest Ethiopia

Abstract

BackgroundViral hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver due to viral infections and there are groups of viruses that affects the liver of which hepatitis B and C viruses are the causative agents of sever form of liver disease with high rate of mortality. Medical waste handlers who undergo collection, transportation, and disposal of medical wastes in the health institutions are at risk of exposure to acquire those infections which transmit mainly as a result of contaminated blood and other body fluids including injury with sharp instruments, splash to the eye or mucous membrane. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B and/or C viruses and associated risk factors among medical waste handlers.ResultsA cross-sectional study was conducted from April, 2011 to June, 2011 in government health institutions at Gondar town. Socio-demographic and possible risk factors data from medical waste handlers were collected using pre-tested and well structured questionnaires. Venous bloods were collected and the serums were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen and anti-hepatitis C antibody using rapid Immunochromatography assay. Data was entered and analyzed using SPSS software package (version16). Chi-square and Fisher exact tests were used to assess risk of association. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistical significance.A total of 100 medical waste handlers and 100 non-clinical waste handlers were examined for HBV and HCV viruses. HBV was detected in 6 (6.0%) and 1 (1.0%) and HCV in 1 (1.0%) and 0 (0.0%) of medical waste handlers and non-clinical waste handlers, respectively. Significant differences were observed in the detection rates of HBV (OR = 6.3; X2 = 4.1; P = 0.04) and overall infection rate (HBV + HCV) (OR = 7.5; X2 = 5.2; P: 0.02) in medical waste handlers when compared with non-clinical waste handlers. It was found that none of the observed risk factors significantly associated with rate of hepatitis infection compared to others.ConclusionsPrevalence of HBV and HCV were significantly higher in medical waste in relation to non-clinical waste handlers. There were poor waste management system which contributed for occurrence of higher degree of sharps injury and blood and body fluids splash.

Waste management in non-hospital emergency units

“…The results found, especially regarding the presence of piercing and cutting objects in plastic bags without any protection, revealed that the professionals working at the units under analysis did not incorporate The main causes of accidents with piercing and cutting objects containing biological material are associated to their disposal in inappropriate places (6,(16)(17) , being the proper management of HCSW a biosafety issue (14,18) . Primary health care professionals, however, consider that the risk of HIV infection in their daily practice is low (19) .…”

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

“…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 .…”

“…Four of the papers included consider workers who collect hospital waste 26,27,28,29 , comparing with workers dealing with ordinary refuse. The study by Ferreira et al 29 involved hospital and municipal waste collection workers, compared with others who covered residential areas.…”

“…Other studies 26,27,28,29 included household waste collectors as the control group. Finally, two studies 23,24 had no control groups at all.…”

“…Two papers 26,27 show that accidents with sharps and the use of injectable drugs do not affect the statistical significance of the association between exposure and infection with HBV.…”