title: [Risk of occupational exposure to hepatitis B virus in Venezuelan health workers. Multicenter study].
abstract: In a multicenter study, 970 serum samples were collected from venezuelan health workers. Presence of HBV serological markers (HBsAg, antiHBs and total anticore) were screened by microELISA. Two-hundred and forty-seven samples (27%) showed at least one positive marker, being the most frequently found the antisurface antibody which was present in different working areas, including those considered at the low exposure level (medicine 24.7%). The proportion of antisurface positive samples also was significantly higher in the group with more than 10 years of service compared to the prevalence showed by the group with less than 5 years (19.1 vs 12.8%). Groups considered to be at low risk, contrary to the expected results, showed a similar or higher prevalence compared to the groups classified as continues or frequent exposure (17.7 vs 8.6%). Our findings suggest a permanent HBV load circulation at the venezuelan hospitals environment.
authors: Centro Nacional de Referencia en Inmunología Clínica (CNRIC), Venezuela.
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Machado
authors: N B
authors: NB
authors: de Marcano
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Rosales
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Rincon
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Carvajal
authors: M T
authors: MT
authors: Rivero
authors: J F
authors: JF
authors: Muñoz
authors: M E
authors: ME
authors: Flores
authors: J L
authors: JL
authors: Flores
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Chinea
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014687:Venezuela / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers
vernacular_title: Riesgo de exposición ocupacional al virus de la hepatitis B en personal de salud Venezolano. Estudio multicéntrico.