title: Experience with hepatitis B vaccination in nurses in a hospital for the mentally handicapped.
abstract: The extent of HBV infection in the staff of a large hospital for the mentally handicapped was investigated. Nurses with direct patient contact were identified as a particular risk group and hepatitis B vaccination was offered to them. Of the 500 who received a full course of vaccination 96% had detectable antibodies 9 months after starting vaccination. High titres (over 1000 IU/l) were found in 59.4%. Females responded better than males and the response was age-dependent. In only 2 of 20 non-responders did lasting immunity develop with a fourth dose of vaccine. Antibody titre decreased rapidly in all vaccinees followed up. In vaccinees with an initial titre above 100 IU/l the decrease in titre could be reversed by a booster dose. Those with a titre below 100 IU/l had a variable response to the booster dose and lasting immunity developed in only a few. A recall system was started that predicts when a booster dose will be required to maintain a protective level of antibody. Servicing such a vaccination programme is not easy.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D007117:Immunization, Secondary; D008607:Intellectual Disability; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012606:Scotland; D012737:Sex Factors; D014611:Vaccination; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines