[Prevalence of antibody against the hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc)among hospital personnel in Buenos Aires].
A group of 1,479 employees in 19 Buenos Aires hospitals were tested for antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) to identify those who should be vaccinated against this infection. The average age of the subjects was 38.22 years; 70.86% of them were women and 85.5% were working in services where the risk of infection was high. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used, and the data were analyzed by the chi-square test. The results showed that 1,257 subjects (85.0%) did not have anti-HBc and thus were considered candidates for vaccination. The antibody was present in 222 individuals (15.0%). The prevalence of anti-HBc increased with age and with length of service, and it was greater in laboratory technicians, nurses, and those in high-risk services. These differences were statistically significant (P less than 0.01). A total of 23 carriers of hepatitis B surface antigen (AgHBs) were identified. In high-risk groups, vaccination against hepatitis B should be preceded by serological screening of susceptible individuals; the use of anti-HBc for this purpose allows carriers of AgHBs to be identified. The high prevalence of anti-HBc in laboratory technicians, nurses, and nurses' aides might justify their systematic vaccination.
Choc de Zanalda
B
B
Municipalidad de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Departamento de Promoción y Protección de la Salud, Argentina.
Manterola
A C
AC
Díaz Lestrem
M
M
Frider
B
B
Zocchi
G A
GA
Fainboim
H
H
Clua
G I
GI
Amor
E
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines
D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines
Prevalencia del anticuerpo contra el antígeno central del virus de la hepatitis B (anti-HBc) en personal hospitalario de Buenos Aires.