Hepatitis B and workers in institutions for the mentally retarded: risk of infection for staff in patient care.
In the fall of 1982, we conducted a serosurvey of 920 of 933 employees in a large residential institution for the mentally retarded in Salem, Oregon. This survey demonstrated an overall prevalence of 10% for antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc), a marker of present or previous hepatitis B virus infection. Antibody positivity was significantly associated with a history of ever having worked in a position involving direct patient care (adjusted odds ratio = 3.1, 95% confidence interval 2.6-4.2). The length of time employed at the institution was significantly associated with an increasing prevalence of anti-HBc positivity among those persons who had ever worked in direct patient care (chi 2 for linear trend = 19.3, P less than .00001, one tail), but not among those employees who had never worked in patient contact. This evidence supports the Immunization Practices Advisory Committee (ACIP) recommendation of hepatitis B virus screening and, where appropriate, vaccinations for those workers in institutions for the mentally retarded who work closely with patients.
Livengood
J R
JR
Division of Field Services, Centers for Disease Control, Salem, Oregon.
Miller
G E
GE
Coulter
D
D
Foster
L R
LR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006280:Health Workforce; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009922:Oregon; D012112:Residential Facilities; D012307:Risk Factors; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use
D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines