Seroprevalence of the Viral Markers of Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and Hiv Among Medical Waste Handlers in Some Hospitals in Sana'a City- Yemen

Abstract

Background and Objective: Hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are highly contagious pathogens that threaten medical waste handlers who are highly exposed to these viruses due to the nature of their work. To date, little data is available on the prevalence of viral markers (HBV, HCV, and HIV) among medical waste handlers in Sana'a city, Yemen. Hence, this work was conducted to enhance knowledge of the prevalence of viral markers among medical waste handlers working in some hospitals in the capital, Sana'a.
 Methods: A cross-sectional prospective study was conducted on 120 randomly selected medical waste handlers from January to June 2022. A pretested and designed questionnaire was used to collect the required data. Total 5mL of venous blood was collected. Then blood was tested for hepatitis B surface antigen and anti-HCV, as well as HIV antibody, were detected using a qualitative by rapid test cassette and positive results were confirmed by ELIZA technique.
 Results: The overall positive rates for HBsAg, anti-HCV, and HIV were 9.17%, 5.0%, and 0.0%, respectively, based on the rapid test. No significant differences were detected between socio-demographic characteristics and hepatitis B and HCV infection. High rates of hepatitis B and C infection were found in the age group ≥41 years (9.17%) and 21-30 years (8.77%), respectively. These two viruses have also been detected among married people with a history of acute infection between 7-9 times. There was a significant correlation between HBsAg positivity and history of blood transfusion as well as between HBsAg and anti-HCV positivity and history of hepatitis B vaccination. ELISA confirmed that the rate of HBsAg was 4.17% and anti-HCV was 2.5%.
 Conclusion: Appropriate training, immunization against HBV, and regular motivation of medical waste handlers on the practices of universal standard precautions are recommended to reduce transmission of hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and HIV among medical waste handlers.
 
 Peer Review History: 
 Received: 4 May 2022; Revised: 14 June; Accepted: 27 June, Available online: 15 July 2022
 Academic Editor: Dr. Muhammad Zahid Iqbal, AIMST University, Malaysia, drmmziqbal@gmail.com
 UJPR follows the most transparent and toughest ‘Advanced OPEN peer review’ system. The identity of the authors and, reviewers will be known to each other. This transparent process will help to eradicate any possible malicious/purposeful interference by any person (publishing staff, reviewer, editor, author, etc) during peer review. As a result of this unique system, all reviewers will get their due recognition and respect, once their names are published in the papers. We expect that, by publishing peer review reports with published papers, will be helpful to many authors for drafting their article according to the specifications. Auhors will remove any error of their article and they will improve their article(s) according to the previous reports displayed with published article(s). The main purpose of it is ‘to improve the quality of a candidate manuscript’. Our reviewers check the ‘strength and weakness of a manuscript honestly’. There will increase in the perfection, and transparency. 
 Received file: Reviewer's Comments:
 Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 6.0/10
 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 7.5/10
 Reviewers:
 Rusmir Baljic, Clinic for infectious diseases, Clinical center University of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. rusmir.baljic@gmail.com
 Dr. Bilge Ahsen KARA, Ankara Gazi Mustafa Kemal Hospital, Turkey, ahsndkyc@gmail.com
 Prof. Dr. Hassan A.H. Al-Shamahy, Sana'a University, Yemen, shmahe@yemen.net.ye
 Dr. Jucimary Vieira dos Santos, Hemonorte Dalton Barbosa Cunha, Brazil, jucimaryvieira@yahoo.com.br 
 Dr. Bilge Ahsen KARA, Ankara Gazi Mustafa Kemal Hospital, Turkey, ahsndkyc@gmail.com
 Similar Articles: 
 PREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS A VIRUS, HEPATITIS B VIRUS, AND HEPATITIS C VIRUS, AMONG PATIENTS WITH HEPATIC JAUNDICE IN SANA’A CITY, YEMEN: A HOSPITAL BASED STUDY 
 SERO-EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY OF HEPATITIS B, C, HIV AND TREPONEMA PALLIDUM AMONG BLOOD DONORS IN HODEIDA CITY- YEMEN 
 EXPLOSION OF HEPATITIS B AND C VIRUSES AMONG HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS AS A RESULT OF HEMODIALYSIS CRISIS IN YEMEN

Infectious diseases among waste handlers and its relation to their work ability, Minia city, Egypt

“…While 22.6% and 22.8% for HBV and HCV respectively (5) . There were no HIV positive personnel in the current study and that was consistent with Beni Suef MSW workers (0%) (21) , Sanaa', Yemen medical waste handlers in hospitals (0%) (24) and Brazil garbage recycling cooperatives workers 0.75% (3) .…”

“…Worldwide, the prevalence is lower than the figures of the current study. In Sanaa' Yemen, the reported prevalence was 5% by rapid test and 2.5% by ELISA among medical waste handlers (24) . An Indian study reported that 10% of the waste handlers were reactive to HCV (25) .…”

“…(26) The Ethiopian study addressed that handling medical wastes (p=0.037) and history of sharp injury (p=0.003) were significant Infectious diseases among waste handlers and its relation to their workability, Minia city, Egypt factors in predicting positive HCV results as well as the non-usage of PPE (p= 0.019) (27) . The study done in Yemen showed that worker who worked more than 11 years had higher rates of HCV infection (8.3%) (24) . Concerning HBV in waste collectors, the current study showed low prevalence (0.9%).…”

“…Other countries show higher number of workers who contracted HBV compared to those addressed in the present study. Yemen waste collectors revealed 9.17% prevalence by rapid test and 4.17% by ELISA (24) , Ethiopia was 6.04% (27) and Iran was 1.5% (28) . HBV prevalence among health care workers -HCWs had similar numbers as Cairo university hospital HCWs showed a prevalence of 0.93% (32) , Assiut HCWs were 3.1% (30) and Suez canal HCWs were 0.4% (33) In WHO-MENA region, the pooled prevalence of HCV among general population was 2.4% with 95% CI (2.3-2.6) and among high-risk health care personnel was 30.1% with 95% CI (27.6-32.7) (34) .…”

Immunological Status of Hepatitis B Virus Infection Among Freshmen University Students in Yemen

“…Hepatitis B virus is endemic in Yemen, the prevalence of HBsAg-positive virus in the general population and HCWs ranges from 8% to 20%, among infants, it was 4.1%, and up to 50% of health workers and residents have previous serologic evidence of HBV infection and this is all in the old reports 4-8 . On the other hand, recent studies have revealed that the incidence of HBsAg, is 0.7-2% among the general population and 4% among high-risk groups such as HCWs and hemodialysis patients and HBV also decreased further among children 9- 15 . It is well known that HBV vaccine is the foundation of the hepatitis B infection prevention.…”