J Korean Med Sci.  2006 Feb;21(1):58-62. 10.3346/jkms.2006.21.1.58.

Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B Virus among Health Care Workers in Korea

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Laboratory Medicine, Sanggye Paik Hospital, School of Medicine, Inje University, Seoul, Korea. bmshin@unitel.co.kr
  • 2Infection Control Office, Sanggye Paik Hospital, School of Medicine, Inje University, Seoul, Korea.
  • 3Department of Nursing, Sanggye Paik Hospital, School of Medicine, Inje University, Seoul, Korea.
  • 4Department of Neurosurgery, Sanggye Paik Hospital, School of Medicine, Inje University, Seoul, Korea.

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.

Keyword

Hepatitis B surface Antigens; Anti-HBs; Anti-HBc; Occupational Exposure; Health Personnel; Korea

MeSH Terms

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

Cited by  2 articles

A Nationwide Survey on the Hospital Vaccination Policies in Korea
Sun Hee Park, Mi Suk Lee, Sung Ran Kim, Yee Gyung Kwak
J Korean Med Sci. 2020;35(12):.    doi: 10.3346/jkms.2020.35.e76.

The Health Status and Management of Migrant Workers in Cheonan: A Comparison Study With Korean Citizens
Sungyeon Kim, Dong Jun Lee, Seung Hyeon Kim, Min Su Byun, Young Sun Yun, Nam Kyu Lim
J Korean Med Sci. 2023;38(46):e398.    doi: 10.3346/jkms.2023.38.e398.


Reference

1. Zou S, Dodd RY, Stramer SL, Strong DM. Tissue Safety Study Group. Probability of viremia with HBV, HCV, HIV and HTLV among tissue donors in the United States. N Engl J Med. 2004. 351:751–759.
Article
2. Kim YS, Kim JS, Huh BY. A study on hepatitis B virus markers and formation of anti-HBs after hepatitis B vaccination in healthy Korean population. Korean J Epidemiol. 1985. 7:8–15.
3. Oh DJ, Hwang YS, Choi JM, Min TH. A study on ALT levels in hepatitis marker positive donors-Anti-HBc positive rate in blood donors. Korean J Blood Transfus. 1997. 8:9–17.
4. Shin BM, Jeong KW. Distribution of anti-HBs levels in Korean adults. Yonsei Med J. 2000. 41:40–48.
Article
5. Kang YJ, Chi SH. An analysis of major health factors of elementary, middle and high school students in Seoul. 2003 Yearb of School Health. 2003. 33:114–133.
6. Kang HS, Song BC, Ji CX, Kim SY, Kim SK. Serologic markers of hepatitis B virus in pregnant women in Jeju Island. Korean J Hepatol. 2004. 10:191–196.
7. Ju YH, Shin HR, Oh JK, Kim DI, Lee DH, Kim BK, Kim JI, Jung KY. A seroepidemiological study of hepatitis B and C virus (HBV and HCV) infections in the young population in parts of Busan, Korea. Korean J Prev Med Public Health. 2004. 37:253–259.
8. Kim DS, Kim YS, Kim JY, Ahn YO. A study on the seropositivity of HBsAg among biennial health examinees: a nation-wide multicenter survey. Korean J Prev Med. 2002. 35:129–135.
9. Lee DH, Kim JH, Nam JJ, Kim HR, Shin HR. Epidemiological findings of hepatitis B infection based on 1998 National Health and Nutrition Survey in Korea. J Korean Med Sci. 2002. 17:457–462.
Article
10. Park KS, Lee YS, Lee SG, Hwang JY, Chung WJ, Cho KB, Hwang JS, Ahn SH, Park SK. A study on markers of viral hepatitis in adults living in Daegu and Gyungbuk area. Korean J Gastroenterol. 2003. 41:473–479.
11. Jang MK, Lee JY, Lee JH, Kim YB, Kim HY, Lee MS, Park CK, Yoo JY. Seroepidemiology of HBV infection in South Korea, 1995 through 1999. Korean J Intern Med. 2001. 16:153–159.
12. Joo KR, Bang SJ, Song BC, Youn KH, Joo YH, Yang S, Kim KR, Chung YH, Lee YS, Suh DJ. Hepatitis B viral markers of Korean adults in the late 1990s: survey data of 70,347 health screenees. Korean J Gastroenterol. 1999. 33:642–652.
13. Ozsoy MF, Oncul O, Cavuslu S, Erdemoglu A, Emekdas G, Pahsa A. Seroprevalences of hepatitis B and C among health care workers in Turkey. J Viral Hepatitis. 2003. 10:150–156.
Article
14. Hizel K, Sengul A, Emekdas G, Senol E, Inal A. Hastane personelinde Hepatit B seroprevalansi ve rekombinant hepatit B asisina immune cevap. Viral Hepatit Derg. 1998. 4:25–27.
15. Pamukcu M, Mutlu G, Yegin O. Hastane personelinde hepatit B virus markerlerinin prevalansi. Turkish J Infect. 1990. 4:149–157.
16. Cheong HJ, Sohn JW, Choi SJ, Eom JS, Woo HJ, Chun BC, Kim WJ, Park SC. Factors influencing decision regarding influenza vaccination: a survey of healthcare workers in one hospital. Infect Chemother. 2004. 36:213–218.
17. West DJ. The risk of hepatitis B infection among health professionals in the United States; a review. Am J Med Sci. 1984. 287:26–33.
Article
18. Gerberding JL. Incidence and prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus and cytomegalovirus among health care personnel at risk for blood exposure. Final report from a longitudinal study. J Infect Dis. 1994. 170:1410–1417.
Article
19. Hofmann F, Kralj N, Beie M. Needle stick injuries in health care-frequency, causes and preventive strategies. Gesundheitswesen. 2002. 64:259–266.
20. Ambrosch F, Frisch-Niggemeyer W, Kremsner P, Kunz C, Andre F, Safary A, Wiedermann G. Persistence of vaccine induced antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen and the need for booster vaccination in adult subjects. Postgrad Med J. 1987. 63:Suppl 2. 129–135.
21. Zuckerman JN. Nonresponse to hepatitis B vaccines and the kinetics of anti-HBs production. J Med Virol. 1996. 50:283–288.
Article
22. Ambrosch F, Courouce AM, Coursaget P, Deinhardt F, Desmyter J, Frei PC. Immunization against hepatitis B. Lancet. 1988. 1:875–876.
23. Jilg W, Schmidt M, Deinhardt F. Immune response to hepatitis B revaccination. J Med Virol. 1988. 24:377–384.
Article
24. West DJ, Galandra GB. Vaccine induced immunologic memory for hepatitis B surface antigen: implications for policy on booster vaccination. Vaccine. 1996. 14:1019–1027.
Article
25. Park NH, Lee JB, Kim YS. The vaccination rate of hepatitis B vaccine among Korean adults. J Korean Acad Fam Med. 1994. 15:191–198.
26. Vardas E, Ross MH, Sharp G, McAnerney J, Sim J. Viral hepatitis in South African healthcare workers at increased risk of occupational exposure to blood-borne viruses. J Hosp Infect. 2002. 50:6–12.
Article
27. Shidrawi R, Ali-Huraibi MA, Ali-Haimi MA, Dayton R, Murray-Lyon IM. Seroprevalence of markers of viral hepatitis in Yemeni Healthcare workers. J Med Virol. 2004. 73:562–565.
Article
28. Rodriguez C, Castilla J, del Romero J, Lillo A, Puig ME, Garcia S. Prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection and needs of vaccination in high risk populations. Med Clin (Barc). 2003. 121:697–699.
Full Text Links
  • JKMS
Actions
Cited
CITED
export Copy
Close
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Similar articles
Copyright © 2024 by Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors. All rights reserved.     E-mail: koreamed@kamje.or.kr