title: [Hepatitis B virus infections in hospitals].
abstract: Subclinical and clinical cases of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in hospital personnel were recorded over a five-year period. Although our data indicate the existence of "high-risk areas" like laboratories, dialysis units or surgical wards, it was found that 50% of all HBV infections were observed outside these areas. During the same period, most of our inpatients were monitored for HBs-antigenemia. It could be demonstrated that more than 50% of all cases of HBs-antigenemia were not known before and were treated primarily for other reasons than for hepatitis B. As a consequence from our data and from the screening for environmental HBs-antigen on laboratory surfaces it may be concluded for the hospital routine: Even minimal contaminations with blood should be avoided, all personnel should be vaccinated against HBs-antigen, HBs-antigen should be determined in every inpatient to detect inapparent virus carriers.
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D002353:Carrier State / Q000175:diagnosis; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005860:Germany, West; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D000410:Alanine Transaminase
vernacular_title: Infektionen mit Hepatitis-B-Virus im Krankenhaus.