title: Hepatitis B vaccine use in chronic hemodialysis centers in the United States.
abstract: The Centers for Disease Control surveyed 1,255 chronic hemodialysis centers in the United States in 1983 to assess the use of hepatitis B vaccine as well as the risk of acquiring hepatitis B among both patients and staff. The response rate to a mailed questionnaire was 90%. Seventy-one percent of the centers reported that they gave vaccine, but only an estimated 6% of susceptible patients and 32% of susceptible staff received all three doses of vaccine. Centers more likely to give vaccine included those that provided dialysis to large patient populations and those that provided dialysis for hepatitis B surface antigen-positive patients. As a result of vaccine administration, the overall prevalence of antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen increased significantly, to 18% for patients and 39% for staff. Extensive use of the vaccine in the future, combined with infection control practices, could virtually eliminate the risk of acquiring hepatitis B virus infection in hemodialysis centers.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Alter
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Favero
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Maynard
mesh_terms: D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D003625:Data Collection; D006280:Health Workforce; D006436:Hemodialysis Units, Hospital; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D006757:Hospital Units; D006801:Humans; D010045:Outpatients; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D014481:United States; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines