Prevalence of serologic markers of the hepatitis B virus in hospital personnel

Objective To verify the prevalence of the anti-HBc, anti-HBs and HBsAg markers of hepatitis B virus, and to identify the risk factors determining occupational infection with this virus among hospital personnel. Methods Samples of serum from 210 persons both male and female who work in different occupations at a hospital university, were analysed. The technique employed was the immunoenzymatic assay using commercial kits. Results As a control group, samples of serum from 45 volunteer blood donors were utilized. It was verified that 20.5% of the hospital personnel presented a positive reaction to at least one of the markers songht, as against 6.6% of the control group. The prevalence of each marker separately was: anti-HBc 8.1%, anti-HBs 5.2%, and HBsAg 2.9% in the hospital personnel; and 4.4%, 2.2% and 0.0% in the control group. The simultaneous presence of the anti-HBc and anti-HBs markers was detected in 4.3% of the workers. in the control group, the presence of the anti-HBc and anti-HBs markers wets detected, isolately, with respective prevalences of 4.4% and 2.2%. Those who presented the highest rates of positivite reaction were: laboratory technicians 24.0%, nurses 23.6%, physicians 20.8%, and cleaning personnel 18.2%. Conclusions The findings suggest that direct contact with patients and handling of blood and other body fluids are risk factors related to occupational infection with HBV. Therefore, it is recommended that hospital personnel be vaccinated against hepatitis B.