Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B Virus among Health Care Workers in Korea.
10.3346/jkms.2006.21.1.58
- Author:
Bo Moon SHIN
1
;
Hyeon Mi YOO
;
Ae Sook LEE
;
Sang Keun PARK
Author Information
1. Department of Laboratory Medicine, Sanggye Paik Hospital, School of Medicine, Inje University, Seoul, Korea. bmshin@unitel.co.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Hepatitis B surface Antigens;
Anti-HBs;
Anti-HBc;
Occupational Exposure;
Health Personnel;
Korea
- MeSH:
Adult;
Aged;
Antibodies, Viral/blood;
Female;
*Health Personnel;
Hepatitis B/*epidemiology/virology;
Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/blood;
Hepatitis B virus/immunology;
Humans;
Korea/epidemiology;
Logistic Models;
Male;
Middle Aged;
Multivariate Analysis;
Occupational Diseases/*epidemiology/virology;
Seroepidemiologic Studies;
Vaccination/statistics & numerical data
- From:Journal of Korean Medical Science
2006;21(1):58-62
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
We studied the seroprevalence of HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBc and the vaccination histories among health care workers (HCWs) at a large suburban referral hospital in Korea. The purpose of this study was to determine the immune status of HCWs against hepatitis B virus and we also wanted to prepare a practical guideline to protect HCWs from occupational exposure. During December, 2003, 571 HCWs (56 physicians, 289 nurses, 113 technicians and 113 aid-nurses) aged between 21 and 74 yr were included in the surveillance. The positive rates of HBsAg and anti-HBs were 2.4% (14/571) and 76.9% (439/571), respectively. The positive rate of anti-HBs was lower in the physician group, and this was associated with the male gender and older age. Of the 439 anti-HBs positive cases, 320 cases (73.1%) were anti-HBc negative and this was significantly associated with a past history of HBV vaccination. The distribution of the anti-HBs levels was not associated with age (except for HCWs in their sixties), gender or occupation. Our study revealed that the seroprevalence rates of HBsAg and anti-HBs in HCWs in Korea were not different from those of the general population. Based on this surveillance, we can make reasonable decisions in case of occupational exposure to hepatitis B virus.
