Hepatitis B vaccination is not yet a reality in supportive health care workers

Background: Annual exposure of health care workers (HCWs) to hepatitis B virus infection was estimated world-wide as 5.9%. Hepatitis B though a preventable disease is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Objective: This study was carried out to find out the preval...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Poongodi Santhana Kumaraswamy, Palaniappan Nainar, Cinthujah Balachandraperumal, Amudha Vickramathithan Panchapooranam
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2014-01-01
Series:Journal of the Scientific Society
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.jscisociety.com/article.asp?issn=0974-5009;year=2014;volume=41;issue=3;spage=176;epage=178;aulast=Kumaraswamy
Description
Summary:Background: Annual exposure of health care workers (HCWs) to hepatitis B virus infection was estimated world-wide as 5.9%. Hepatitis B though a preventable disease is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Objective: This study was carried out to find out the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) among supportive HCWs. Materials and Methods: A total of 115 blood samples were collected from different categories of supportive HCWs, sera were separated, stored at −20°C and tested for HBsAg enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Of the 115 HCWs, two were positive for HBsAg. One was female nursing assistant with >20 years experience and the other was male sanitary worker with <20 years experience. Both were above 40 years of age. Conclusion: Proper training of HCWs about universal work precautions, awareness about vaccination, reporting of occupational exposure to health authorities and post-exposure prophylaxis in all health care set ups can be pivotal in preventing health care associated infections.
ISSN:0974-5009