Naslov
The prevalence of hepatitis B infection among medical workers prior to vaccination

Autori
Ropac, Darko ; Zorić, Ivan ; Palmović, Dragan ; Mulić, Rosanda ; Milas, Josip ; Stašević, Ina

Izvornik
Periodicum biologorum (0031-5362) 103 (2001), 1; 45-48

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
Hepatitis B virus infection ; prevalence ; medical workers ; Croatia

Sažetak
In the Republic of Croatia the use of active immunization against hepatitis B started in 1987, but many candidates for vaccination have not yet immunized. Thus, the sera collected from medical professionals working at the general hospital in Zagreb before the introduction of active immunoprophylaxis may give the results of the real prevalence of HBV infection among health-care workers in our hospitals. Materials and Methods: Before the beginning of vaccination against hepatitis B at the general hospital, the sera from 364 medical professionals were tested. blood samples were collected, stored and tested for HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBc by radioimmunoassays on solid agar (Austria, Ausab, Corab assays, Abbott). Results: During the first five years of occupational exposition a high rate of HBV infection (15.4%) was found, and among medical workers who were professionally exposed more than 19 years, contact with HBV was recorded in 47%. The highest percentage of past HBV infection was documented at the department of transfusion medicine (50%) followed by the hemodialysis unit (27%), intensive care unit (25%) and the department of surgery (20.8%). Conclusion: Thus medical workers should use personal protective measures, but vaccination against hepatitis B still remains the best prophylaxis for high-risk medical professionals.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Javno zdravstvo i zdravstvena zaštita

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