Seroprevalence of Hepatitis E in Hospital Employees and Investigation of Risk Factors

Objective: There are few epidemiologic case-control studies in Turkey about hepatitis E virus (HEV). Seroprevalence and risk factor studies will guide vaccination recommendations in our country. It was aimed to detect HEV antibodies and to investigate the risk factors for hepatitis E in the cleaning staff of Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University Hospital for Medical Research and Practice. Methods: 90 cleaning staff working at the canakkale Onsekiz Mart University Hospital and 90 administrative staff were included in the study group. The presence of HEV IgG and IgM antibodies were investigated by micro-ELISA. HEV-RNA was investigated in IgG-positive patients. Known and predicted risk factors for fecal -orally transmitted infections were included in questionnaires. Correlation analysis between groups was made in terms of age, gender, education, number of rooms in their house, number of residents in their house, source of drinking and domestic water, history of jaundice, surgery, blood transfusion and chronic disease (including drug use), and use of common items. Open-ended questions were used for investigation of possible risk factors. Results: Anti-HEV IgG was positive in 13 (7.2%) subjects. None of them showed anti-HEV IgM positivity. REV RNA positivity was not detected. The relationship between seropositivity and being over 45 years old, having more than five siblings, and having less than two rooms in the house were statistically significant (p<0.005). Seropositivity was found as high as 18% in the group with poor socioeconomic status. There was no significant relationship between seropositivity and gender, socioeconomic status, education level, number of rooms, history of jaundice and source of drinking water, There was no difference between each groups in the answers to the open-ended questions. Conclusions: Being over 45 years old, living in crowded and small homes increase the risk of HEV infection.