title: Epidemiology of hepatitis B in hospital personnel.
abstract: To identify occupational categories and work areas of possible risk for acquisition of nosocomial hepatitis B by hospital personnel, serologic sampling for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBSAg) and antibody (anti-HBS) by radioimmunoassay was carried out in 513 employees of a large metropolitan hospital serving predominantly indigent patients. HBSAg was detected in 0.7%, HBSAg and anti-HBS in 0.4%, and anti-HBS in 13.3% of the study population. No significant difference in seropositivity was noted between sexes. Furthermore, neither exposure to patients with hapatitis nor previous blood transfusion correlated with serologic evidence of hepatitis B infection. However, frequency and intensity of exposure to blood products was associated with serologic evidence of infection: 18.9% of those with frequent blood contact were positive for HBSAg or anti-HBS, compared with 11.4% of those without blood product exposure (p less than .05). Direct patient contact, apart from blood exposure, did not appear operative as a major factor in hepatitis B transmission in this population. Accordingly, occupational categories and work areas with highest risk for acquisition of nosocomial hepatitis B were those with greatest blood exposure.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001769:Blood / Q000382:microbiology; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007757:Laboratory Infection; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012306:Risk; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens