title: Occupational risk of hepatitis B from institutionalized mentally retarded HBsAg carriers: a prospective study.
abstract: In an institution for the mentally retarded, a total of 13 (2.4%) susceptible employees seroconverted for hepatitis B during 539 person-years. Two of them developed acute hepatitis B; the cost of their medical care and temporary disability was $7,772. Eleven seroconverters had no elevation of serum alanine aminotransferase, and all seroconverters recovered without chronic sequelae. Nine converters acquired antibody to HBsAg alone; three of these had no client contact. Difficulty in identifying nonoccupational causes of hepatitis B infection in the institutional setting often leads to labeling of all seroconversions as occupationally acquired. Hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for client-care personnel.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002353:Carrier State; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000635:transmission*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens