Evaluation of the epidemiology of hepatitis B virus cross-infection in a maternity hospital.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the hepatitis B infection risk in a university hospital of obstetrics and gynecology.


METHODS
The University Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Sarajevo, Yugoslavia.


METHODS
Staff members were divided into three groups: 73 doctors, 184 medical technicians working in delivery rooms, and 55 medical technicians working with postnatal care. The patients were 63 women, aged 17 to 39 years (mean = 26.11 years), pregnant for the first time and in the first stage of labor. Participants all had a negative history of hepatitis B and no known contact with the hepatitis B virus.


RESULTS
The incidence of hepatitis B infections among physicians, technicians, and postnatal care technicians was 1.36%, 3.8%, and 3.6%, respectively. The incidence among patients was 4.76%. The daily infection risk varied between 1% and 17% of all deliveries.


CONCLUSIONS
The risks of transmission of the hepatitis B virus to hospital workers in this setting is indeed high enough to make a case for hepatitis B vaccination in susceptible staff members. Even if vaccination of staff members is carried out, hygienic measures to prevent the transmission of bloodborne infection between patients and from patients to staff are of the utmost importance.
Puvacic
Z
Z
University Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Sarajevo, Yugoslavia.
Simic
S
S
Karlovac
M
M
Visnjevac
V
V
Simic
M
M
Nikulin
B
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006771:Hospitals, Maternity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D015022:Yugoslavia / Q000453:epidemiology
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens