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

• Shin BM
• Yoo HM
• Lee AS
• Park SK

• KMID: 2157783
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2006.21.1.58

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

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