Hepatitis B and hepatitis B vaccine requirements in schools of nursing in the United States: a national survey.
To ascertain use of the hepatitis B vaccine and occurrence of hepatitis B infection in nursing students, 1152 U.S. nursing schools were surveyed; 54.3% responded. The vaccine was required by 4.2% and recommended by 7.7%. Baccalaureate programs tended to require the vaccine more than the associate degree or diploma programs (p = 0.062). The occurrence of exposure of nursing students to blood and body fluids in the past 5 years was reported by 89.7%. Students in the diploma program had significantly more exposures (98.6%) than those in the associate degree (92.8%) and baccalaureate programs (82.7%; p less than 0.0005). At least one case of hepatitis B in the past 5 years was reported by 6.8%. Development of positive serologic markers in students after exposure to blood was reported by 7.1%. Seropositivity tended to occur in the Southeast and West (p = 0.035) and in cities with a relatively higher incidence of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (p = 0.075). Diploma programs were significantly more likely to institute appropriate follow-up for students after exposure to blood of patients who were known or unknown carriers of hepatitis B virus (p less than 0.0001). For students exposed to blood of patients whose hepatitis B status was unknown and patients who were known hepatitis B carriers, 19.2% and 8.9%, respectively, reported they performed no follow-up whatsoever. U.S. nursing students are inadequately protected against hepatitis B. Nursing school administrators and faculty should be educated on the risks of hepatitis B infection and the indications and use of the hepatitis B vaccine.
Goetz
A
A
Veterans Administration Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15240.
Yu
V L
VL
D001826:Body Fluids / Q000382:microbiology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors; D012579:Schools, Nursing; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines